“I welcome this first step. The dialogue continues to enable their return to France as quickly as possible.” — President Emmanuel Macron.
Iran has released two French citizens, Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, who had been detained since 2022, according to The Washington Times reporting on Tuesday.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced their release on social media, describing it as an “immense relief.” He said the pair had been freed from Tehran’s Evin prison and were en route to the French Embassy. “I welcome this first step. The dialogue continues to enable their return to France as quickly as possible,” Macron wrote.
Kohler, 41, and Paris, 72, were arrested while on vacation in Iran and accused of spying for Israel and plotting to overthrow the Islamic Republic — allegations they denied.
The French government had filed a case against Iran at the International Court of Justice, claiming the detentions violated international law. Macron later withdrew the case following talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in New York, which opened the way for further prisoner negotiations.
France’s release of Mahdieh Esfandiari, an Iranian student accused of promoting terrorism online, on October 23 reportedly helped facilitate the deal.
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