France 'concerned' about death row Iranian juvenile offender

France said Monday it was concerned about the fate of an Iranian juvenile offender who is on death row, just days after Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius visited Tehran to revive ties between the two countries.

According to Amnesty International, Salar Shadizadi, who is now 24, was convicted of murdering a friend in 2007 when he was 15 years old. His execution planned for August 1 has reportedly been delayed.

"France is concerned by information about the imminent execution of the young Salar Shadizadi, who was a minor at the time of the facts alleged against him," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

"France reaffirms its constant opposition to the death penalty, anywhere and in any circumstance."

Amnesty said in a recent statement that the planned execution of Shadizadi "flies in the face of international law", and called on Iran to commute his death sentence.

The rights group says Iran was second only to China in the number of executions it carried out in 2014, with 289 people put to death according to official records, although that number is thought to be much higher.

Fabius went to Iran last week for a quick visit aimed at warming up relations after a historic nuclear deal signed in July between Tehran and six world powers made such a trip possible.