France has renewed calls for the immediate release of two of its nationals, Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, who have been imprisoned in Iran since 2022.
The couple, accused by Tehran of espionage, are reportedly being held in harsh conditions at Evin Prison. France strongly denies the charges, calling the detentions arbitrary and the conditions “akin to torture.” Iranian authorities have not confirmed any formal charges, stating only that the case remains under judicial review.
“If it is true that they are being charged with spying for Mossad, we consider these accusations completely baseless,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said Thursday. “Their release remains our highest priority.”
The Iranian embassy in Paris said no verdict has yet been reached and that the matter is still under investigation.
France, alongside other European nations, has criticized Iran in recent months for its treatment of foreign detainees, its support for Russia in Ukraine, and ongoing concerns about its nuclear program. Rights groups accuse Iran of using foreign nationals as political leverage, a claim Tehran denies.
