France’s President Emmanuel Macron announced the release of two French citizens, Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, from Iran’s Evin prison after more than three years on disputed espionage charges. Both teachers were arrested in May 2022.
Macron expressed “immense relief” and said efforts are ongoing to secure their return to France. Iran described the release as “conditional,” with the pair under surveillance until further judicial proceedings.
The couple described by France as “state hostages” had been sentenced to 20 and 17 years in prison. Their release is seen as a diplomatic success for France, though the timing of their return home remains uncertain.
The case is linked to the transfer of Iranian citizen Mahdieh Esfandiari, who was arrested in France in February 2025 on charges of promoting terrorism. Esfandiari has been moved to the Iranian embassy in Paris under restrictions. Iranian officials indicated that her transfer and the French couple’s release are part of ongoing diplomatic negotiations between France and Iran.
Iran has been accusing foreign nationals of espionage, including the 2023 case of Swedish diplomat Johan Floderu,s who was almost executed after being imprisoned.