Paris / Tehran, July 3, 2025 — The French government has urgently called for the unconditional release of two French nationals, Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, who have been detained in Iran since May 2022, labeling their continued imprisonment “totally arbitrary” and deeply unjust.
Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot addressed the issue in a press briefing, denouncing the espionage charges—reportedly accusing the couple of spying for Israel’s Mossad—as “completely unfounded.” The pair are currently held in Evin Prison, where French authorities say they endure harsh conditions and are being denied proper consular access—treatment France likens to torture .
France first lodged a formal complaint at the International Court of Justice in May, citing violations of consular rights. That action reflects its broader diplomatic strategy of increasing pressure on Tehran amid rising tensions over Iran’s nuclear activities, military ties, and tendency to detain European citizens for leverage .
Compounding the concern, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards are known to hold foreigners on espionage-related charges, a pattern France and human-rights organizations say is politically motivated .
Adding to the alarm, families of Kohler and Paris have made emotional appeals for proof of life since an Israeli airstrike hit Evin Prison in late June. Iran has confirmed casualties from that strike, but there has been no official update on the French couple’s wellbeing .
During a visit last month, a French diplomat reported the couple is still alive but is being held under unforgiving conditions and without independent legal counsel .
France’s Position and Next Moves
• Diplomatic pressure escalating: Paris has used legal actions (ICJ filing) and repeated high-level statements to place pressure on Tehran.
• Heightened diplomatic scrutiny: This case is unfolding alongside France’s broader caution over Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its military cooperation with Russia .
• Family pleas intensify urgency: Loved ones are demanding immediate confirmation of the couple’s condition and effective diplomatic intervention .
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What Happens Next
France insists that the release of Kohler and Paris remains its top diplomatic priority. As tensions escalate and legal avenues are pursued, observers are watching whether Tehran will yield to mounting international pressure or continue to employ detained Westerners as bargaining assets. Europe’s broader engagement with Iran—especially regarding nuclear talks—may hinge on how swiftly and decisively Paris acts to resolve this humanitarian crisis.
