Iran Releases Two French Nationals After Three Years in Prison

Iran has released two French nationals, Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, who were imprisoned for over three years on charges of espionage that their families have consistently denied. French President Emmanuel Macron announced the development on X, expressing “immense relief” that the couple was no longer in detention. Their release from Evin Prison in northern Tehran marks a significant moment, although it remains unclear when they will return to France.

The couple, aged 41 and 72, respectively, were arrested in May 2022 while visiting Iran. French officials have openly condemned their detention as “unjustified and unfounded,” emphasizing that their trip was solely for tourism. Both Kohler and Paris are teachers, although Paris is now retired. Their situation is emblematic of what many human rights activists and some Western governments describe as Iran’s strategy of using foreign nationals as leverage to extract concessions.

According to the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the pair was granted “conditional release” on bail, meaning they will remain under surveillance as judicial proceedings continue. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot confirmed that Kohler and Paris are currently in good health and staying at the French ambassador’s residence in Tehran. Details regarding their departure from Iran have not been disclosed.

Their legal team in Paris issued a statement indicating that their release ended “arbitrary detention which lasted 1,277 days.” The timing of this release is particularly sensitive, given the recent tensions between Tehran and Western nations, especially following the US-Israel military actions in June and subsequent sanctions related to Iran’s nuclear program.

The couple had been sentenced to lengthy prison terms—17 years for Paris and 20 years for Kohler—following a closed-door trial last month. Concerns regarding their welfare escalated after they were relocated from Evin Prison amid fears for their safety after an Israeli attack on the facility. Kohler was previously shown on Iranian television in what rights groups described as a coerced confession, a practice that many consider a form of torture.

Their families expressed joy at the news of their release, with Kohler’s parents stating they felt “immense relief” that the couple is now safe, even if their future remains uncertain. France had initiated legal proceedings at the International Court of Justice over their detention, arguing that it targeted French nationals visiting Iran. However, in September, France requested the court to drop the case, leading to speculation about ongoing negotiations between the two nations for the release.

There are unconfirmed reports suggesting that the release of Kohler and Paris could be part of a broader exchange arrangement involving the Iranian national Mahdieh Esfandiari, who was arrested in France in February on charges of promoting terrorism on social media. Esfandiari was released on bail last month, and her trial is scheduled to begin in Paris on January 13, 2024.

Amid this backdrop, other Europeans remain imprisoned in Iran, including Swedish-Iranian academic Ahmadreza Djalali, who has faced a death sentence on espionage charges that his family vehemently disputes. The situation continues to evolve, impacting diplomatic relations and the climate for foreign nationals in Iran.