Two French citizens who spent more than three years imprisoned in Iran have been released and are traveling back to France, according to French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement Tuesday.
Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris were permitted to depart Iran after being confined to French diplomatic facilities since their prison release in November. “Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris are free and on route toward French territory, after three and a half years of detention in Iran,” Macron wrote on social media platform X.
The breakthrough came after extensive diplomatic efforts by France to secure their departure from Iranian territory. Macron acknowledged Oman’s assistance in mediating the release, stating “It’s a relief for us all and obviously for their families.”
According to Iran’s official news agency IRNA, Tehran agreed to release the French pair in exchange for Iranian citizen Mahdieh Esfandiari. Iranian officials had been demanding Esfandiari’s release since last year following her conviction in France for promoting terrorism through statements she made regarding the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks against Israel.
The prisoner exchange highlights Iran’s strategic approach to international relations during ongoing regional conflicts. Macron has maintained France’s distance from the broader Middle East tensions, stating his nation was not consulted about U.S.-Israeli military operations.
Iranian authorities had freed Kohler and Paris from prison in November but prevented their departure from the country. The two had been detained since May 2022 on espionage allegations that French officials consistently rejected as baseless.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot confirmed he spoke with both released citizens, who “expressed their emotion and their joy at soon being reunited with their country and their loved ones.” He praised France’s embassy staff in Tehran for keeping them secure “under very difficult conditions.”
France has long criticized Iran for what it calls a “hostage policy,” using foreign nationals as diplomatic leverage. Tehran denies these accusations from Western governments.
In September, Iranian officials indicated the two nations were close to finalizing a prisoner exchange involving Esfandiari. France subsequently withdrew its case against Iran at the International Court of Justice, where it had accused Tehran of violating consular protection rights.
A French court convicted Esfandiari in February on terrorism incitement charges, sentencing her to one year in prison plus a three-year suspended sentence and permanent ban from French territory.
