France’s ministry of foreign affairs has dismissed an Iranian offer to grant amnesty to French academic Clotilde Reiss in return for the release of Iranian nationals currently serving jail terms in France.

Reiss was arrested in Tehran on July 1 amid a crackdown on streets protests following the disputed June 12 presidential poll.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is expected to appear on French television to give his reactions to demands made by his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that some form of prisoner exchange be discussed.

French officials believe the Iranian detainees in question could include Ali Vakili Rad, sentenced in 1991 for the assassination of former Iranian PM Chapour Bakhtiar, and Majid Kakavand, arrested at the behest of the US, because he bought suspicious materials over the Internet – and for whom the US has requested extradition.

Asked about Iran’s request, foreign ministry deputy spokesperson Christine Fages said, “You cannot compare Clotilde Reiss’ situation with those to whom you are referring.”

The Iranian president suggested on Tuesday the possibility of a prisoner exchange of Iranians detained in France in return for a presidential pardon for Reiss.