France on Thursday called for the immediate release of two citizens imprisoned in Iran since 2022, rejecting Tehran’s charges against them as baseless and warning of consequences if the pair are not freed.
“It’s a provocation against France and an unacceptable choice of aggression,” President Emmanuel Macron told reporters. “It’s unacceptable for France.”
Cécile Kohler, a teacher, and her partner Jacques Paris were arrested during a tourist visit in May 2022 and remain in detention in Tehran’s Evin Prison. This week, Iranian authorities formally charged them with “espionage for Israel’s Mossad, conspiracy to overthrow the regime, and corruption on earth,” according to diplomatic and family sources cited by Agence France Presse.
“If it is indeed confirmed that they are facing these charges, we would consider those charges to be completely unjustified and unfounded,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said.
Any decision on reimposing sanctions would depend on the outcome of their case, Barrot added, saying “We have always told our interlocutors from the Iranian regime that any decision on sanctions will be conditional on resolving this issue.”
The couple’s family says they have no access to independent legal counsel. Kohler’s sister told AFP that the two had appeared before a judge who confirmed the charges.
In May, France filed a case against Iran at the International Court of Justice, accusing Tehran of violating international law through arbitrary detention and the denial of consular access. Macron has previously described the couple as “state hostages.”
Their continued detention comes amid a wider crackdown in Iran following the 12-day Israeli military campaign in late June. Iran has since executed several individuals and arrested hundreds more on charges of espionage and collaboration with Israel.
