France said on Thursday that its decision to reimpose sanctions on Iran would depend on the release of two French citizens who have been imprisoned in Tehran for three years and now face new espionage charges.
Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris were formally charged this week with spying for Israel’s Mossad, conspiracy to overthrow the regime, and “corruption on earth,” AFP reported, citing diplomatic and family sources on Wednesday.
Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the charges against the two French citizens are “totally unjustified and baseless,” adding: “If it is indeed confirmed that they are facing these charges, we would consider them completely unjustified and unfounded.” He stressed that their release is “an absolute priority” for the French government.
He added, “We have always told our interlocutors from the Iranian regime that any decision on sanctions will be conditional on resolving this issue.” His remarks echoed earlier comments on the possibility of triggering the snapback mechanism under the 2015 nuclear deal.
The two were arrested in May 2022 during a trip to Iran and remain in detention in Tehran.
The pair’s family says they still have no access to independent lawyers. Kohler’s sister told AFP they had seen a judge who confirmed the charges, but no further details were provided. In May, France filed a case against Iran at the International Court of Justice, accusing Tehran of arbitrary detention and violations of international law.
President Emmanuel Macron has previously referred to the pair as “state hostages,” accusing Iran of detaining foreigners to exert pressure on Western states. Iran denies the claim.
Since the end of the 12-day Israeli campaign on June 24, Iran has carried out multiple executions and arrested hundreds on charges of espionage and collaboration with Israel.
Earlier warning tied snapback to nuclear behavior
On Wednesday, Barrot separately warned that France, along with Germany and the UK, could invoke the so-called snapback mechanism under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal if Tehran refuses stricter curbs on its nuclear and ballistic programs.
“With a simple letter in the mail, we can reimpose on Iran a global embargo on weapons, nuclear equipment, banks and insurance,” Barrot told Le Monde. “It is essential that our security interests be taken into account.”
The snapback provision allows remaining participants in the deal to restore UN sanctions lifted under the agreement if Iran is found to be in breach. The United States, which exited the accord in 2018 under President Donald Trump, can no longer trigger the process itself.
