Iran Frees 2 French Citizens Imprisoned For More Than 3 Years

JAKARTA - Iran released two French nationals who were jailed for more than three years. The release is allegedly an exchange for an Iranian student who was released on condition in October.

Total Kohler and his partner Jacques Paris, who have been detained since 2022, "has been out of Evin prison and is on their way to the French Embassy in Tehran", French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X.

"I welcome this first step. This dialogue continues to allow them to return to France as soon as possible," he continued.

Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Kohler and Paris were now "safe" at the French Embassy "ahead of their last release".

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the two French nationals had been released on bail and would remain in Iran "under surveillance until the next stage of the judicial process."

Kohler and Paris have been among dozens of foreign nationals and are dual nationals detained by the Islamic Republic in recent years, often on espionage-related charges. France says the accusations against Kohler and Paris are baseless.

Their release ended years of negotiations between the two countries over French nationals detained in Iran - seven times until 2022.

France has repeatedly accused Iran of hostageing the country and detaining its citizens arbitrarily in conditions similar to torture. Tehran denies the allegations.