Iran and France Conduct Prisoner Exchange Amid Diplomatic Overtures
Iran and France have carried out a reciprocal release of prisoners, marking the latest episode of politically sensitive diplomacy between the two countries.
Iran and France have carried out a reciprocal release of prisoners, marking the latest episode of politically sensitive diplomacy between the two countries. Two French nationals detained in Iran — Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris — were released from Tehran’s Evin Prison, while Mahdieh Esfandiari, an Iranian citizen held in France, was transferred to the Iranian embassy in Paris. Although both sides have confirmed the exchange, none of the released individuals have yet left the host countries, and legal proceedings remain ongoing.
According to the Élysée Palace, French President Emmanuel Macron spoke by phone with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian following the announcement of the releases. Macron welcomed what he described as “a first step” and called for the “full and immediate release” of the two French citizens. In a message posted on X, he wrote that “Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, detained for three years in Iran, have been freed from Evin Prison and are on their way to the French embassy in Tehran.” He added that their release brought him “great relief” and that talks are continuing to ensure their swift return to France. Macron also expressed gratitude to France’s diplomatic corps and government ministries for their tireless efforts in securing the couple’s freedom.
In Tehran, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that the two French nationals were released under “Islamic clemency.” He confirmed that Mahdieh Esfandiari, the Iranian citizen formerly imprisoned in France, had arrived at the Iranian embassy in Paris and would return to Iran once court procedures conclude. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei clarified that Kohler and Paris were freed on bail by order of the judge and would remain under judicial supervision until the next stage of review.
Cécile Kohler, a teacher and trade unionist, and her partner Jacques Paris were arrested in May 2022 during the final day of a tourist trip to Iran. Iranian authorities accused them of espionage for Israel and attempting to undermine the state. In late October 2025, the judiciary announced that a Revolutionary Court had sentenced both to more than 30 years in prison on charges of spying for French intelligence, collusion against national security, and intelligence cooperation with Israel. Their detention was widely condemned by French officials and human-rights organizations, who described it as arbitrary and politically motivated.
Mahdieh Esfandiari, a 39-year-old Iranian translator living in Lyon since 2018, was arrested in February 2025 by French authorities. The Paris Prosecutor’s Office charged her with “glorifying terrorism” after her Telegram account allegedly published a message praising the October 7 attacks on Israel. Iranian officials repeatedly demanded her release, and for months speculation grew about a possible exchange involving her and the two detained French nationals. Following her release, Esfandiari was permitted to stay at the Iranian embassy in Paris, and officials stated that she would return to Tehran after the French judicial process is complete.
Reports of a potential swap first surfaced in early October 2025, when Reuters and other outlets reported that Tehran and Paris were close to an agreement. France had earlier filed a case against Iran at the International Court of Justice for violating consular rights under the Vienna Convention, but withdrew the complaint in September 2025 — a move widely interpreted as part of the behind-the-scenes negotiations. Although the exact terms of the exchange remain undisclosed, the process appears to have been quietly orchestrated through informal diplomatic channels, demonstrating that dialogue continues even amid strained bilateral relations.
The case of Kohler and Paris is part of a broader pattern of Western citizens detained in Iran on security or espionage charges. In recent years, several other French or dual-national citizens — including Louis Arnaud, Benjamin Brière, Bernard Phelan, Fariba Adelkhah, and Roland Marchal — have faced similar accusations. Just weeks before this latest exchange, Lennart Monterlos, a 19-year-old Franco-German cyclist, was released from detention in Iran after being acquitted of espionage charges, highlighting the continued volatility of such politically charged cases.