France Release of two Frenchmen in Iran - What does it mean?
Following the release of a French teacher couple from prison in Iran, speculation is mounting about a possible prisoner exchange. After more than three years in prison, the pair were initially taken to the French embassy in Tehran on Tuesday evening. However, their lawyer Martin Pradel told France Info that the two could not yet return to France. It is not known how long it will take until then. "Nothing obliges the Iranians to actually release Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris." The case had strained French-Iranian relations for a long time. Key questions at a glance:
05.11.2025, 11:50
05.11.2025, 11:51
SDA
What do we know about the two Frenchmen?
According to France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, the two are doing well. They appeared to be in good health and were now under the protection of France, he said on France 2. Barrot had also spoken to their families: "A lot of emotion, a lot of relief, also a lot of joy," he said, summarizing their reactions.
The case of the teacher couple had moved France for years. In May 2022, the pensioner and his younger partner were arrested while traveling in Iran. France had repeatedly criticized their detention conditions and accused Tehran of holding them as "state hostages". In mid-October, Iran's judiciary sentenced them to 17 and 20 years in prison for spying for Israel's secret service and contact with Iranian trade union activists.
The French citizens were released on bail by order of the responsible judge, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghai said in a statement issued by his ministry on Wednesday night. They are to remain under supervision until the "next legal phase". When this next step could come is completely open.
What is the speculation about a prisoner exchange all about?
According to observers, the release could have come about because France could also release an Iranian prisoner. Just two weeks ago, Iranian citizen Mahdieh Esfandiari, who was accused of glorifying terrorism, was released from custody in France, according to Tehran. She is now in the Iranian embassy, said Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday.
When asked whether this was now a prisoner exchange, Barrot merely said that the release of Kohler and Paris was the fruit of long work by French diplomacy. What is certain is that Kohler and Paris will probably not yet be able to return to France. They are working on their "definitive release" and their return to France, said Barrot. He did not specify when exactly this might be the case. It is conceivable that this could happen in exchange for Esfandiari. According to reports, the Iranian woman is due to stand trial in January.
Human rights activists have been accusing the Iranian leadership of so-called "hostage diplomacy" for years - the arrest of Western citizens in order to free Iranian officials abroad, for example. The government in Tehran firmly rejects the accusations.
Is the release a sign of détente?
France's foreign minister did not want to go that far in the evening. In response to a question, he merely said that he had called his Iranian counterpart to express his appreciation for the release - and to demand their immediate and unconditional release.
The detention of Kohler and Paris had strained relations between the two countries. France had stepped up its tone towards Tehran in order to exert pressure on account of several detained French nationals. Relations between European countries and Iran's government have also sunk to a new low against the backdrop of the nuclear dispute with the West.
It was only in October that a 19-year-old German-French national arrested in Iran in June was released. The Iranian authorities accused the cycling tourist - shortly after the Israeli attacks on Iran - of spying for the Israeli secret service. A court later acquitted him of the charge.
