1 PRISONER FREED: Iranian state TV said Friday that authorities released a jailed French researcher detained in Tehran for more than eight months on charges of violating state security laws and spreading propaganda, in an apparent prisoner swap for an Iranian held in France. The report said Roland Marchal was turned over to the French Embassy in Tehran, hours after French authorities released Jalal Ruhollahnejad. The state TV report did not provide further details, but included an undated photo showing Ruhollahnejad apparently on board an aircraft. The French Foreign Ministry and the French university Marchal was associated with did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday. The Iranian report said French authorities had planned to deliver Ruhollahnejad to the U.S. for his alleged role in violating U.S. sanctions on Iran. 2 WEAPONS SEIZED: Police in Greece said Friday they have seized grenade launchers and other weapons in raids against suspected members of a far-left Turkish armed group. The raids were carried out at two properties in Athens on Thursday against alleged members of Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party-Front, or DHKP-C, a group that is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union. Eleven people were arrested in the operation. They were charged Friday with terrorism-linked offenses. Their lawyers said the suspects denied the charges. It was unclear how the suspects had been allegedly planning to use the weapons. 3 JOINING NATO: North Macedonia President Stevo Pendarovski on Friday signed a final accession document required for the country to become the next member of NATO. Pendarovski signed the so-called instrument of accession after Spain earlier this week became the last alliance member to...
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