Salvation after three years: French couple released from Iran!

Salvation after three years: French couple released from Iran!

Finally good news from Iran: after more than three years in prison, the two Frenchmen, Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, have been released. This was officially announced by French President Emmanuel Macron on November 4, 2025. The two visitors, who were arrested during a trip to Iran in May 2022, are now being accommodated in the French embassy in Tehran for the time being. However, their return to France is still in the balance and a quicker solution is currently being worked on. How Radio Bielefeld reported, there is already speculation that the release could be part of a larger prisoner exchange.

Both were initially sentenced by the Iranian judiciary in 2022 to prison sentences of 17 and 20 years for espionage. These allegations were criticized by human rights activists as hostage diplomacy. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said that Kohler and Paris were fine and in good health. Tensions between France and Iran had worsened significantly as a result of their imprisonment. The French president had repeatedly called for the couple's release and accused the Iranian government of holding them as "state hostages."

Political background and international reactions

Macron stressed that dialogue with Iran must continue to accelerate the return of Kohler and Paris. In addition to the current events, there are other people affected. Two weeks ago, Iranian citizen Mahdieh Esfandiari was released in France, where she is under house arrest. She was previously accused of glorifying acts of terrorism on social media. There are indications that the releases are closely linked and could be part of a possible prisoner exchange, such as n-tv reported.

The diplomatic tensions between European countries and Iran are under constant observation. In the international context, especially with regard to the nuclear dispute, the relations of European countries with Tehran have suffered greatly in recent years. France has toughened its diplomatic tone over the employment of Iranian officials to put pressure on Tehran. The Iranian ambassador to Paris was summoned in January to discuss the situation.

The release of Kohler and Paris could be seen as a bright spot in an otherwise tense relationship between the nations. While the release is seen as a success of diplomatic efforts, the question of their final return to France remains open. The French, both teachers, hope to return to their homeland soon, while the Iranian government vehemently rejects the accusation of hostage diplomacy.