Diplomat says Frenchman shot dead in Iranian city

TEHRAN (Reuters) - A French tourist was shot dead in the central Iranian city of Isfahan by a man who local police said was "mentally disturbed", a French diplomat said on Monday.

"It has no political significance," the diplomat, who asked not to be named, told Reuters.

He said the 24-year-old French man, Julien van Waesberghe, was shot dead on Sunday night at a bus station as he was about to travel to another city south of Isfahan.

"It seems that it was a crime that has been done by somebody who was mentally disturbed," the diplomat said.

He said police told the French embassy the killer had been seeking the release of his brother from jail. The police said he had previously made threats about taking possible action.

Iranian media also reported the shooting.

(Reporting by Edmund Blair; Editing by Caroline Drees)