Finance
French Nationals Released From Iran, Returning to France, Macron Says
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 7, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 7, 2026
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French nationals Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, detained in Iran for over three and a half years, have been released and are en route to France, President Macron announced. Lawmakers warmly welcomed the news in the National Assembly.
French nationals freed from detention in Iran, returning to France, Macron says
Details of the Release and Diplomatic Efforts
Background of the Detention
PARIS, April 7 (Reuters) - French nationals Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris are "free and on their way to France after three and a half years of detention in Iran", President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday in a post on X, adding that Oman had mediated their release.
The couple had been held by Iran since 2022 on charges of spying, which France said were unfounded. They were released from the notorious Evin jail in November and had stayed since then at the French embassy.
French Government Response
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said he had spoken to the couple.
"They shared with me their emotion and their joy to return soon to their country and their loved ones," he said in a social media post.
His ministry said Barrot had held discussions at the weekend with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi.
Reaction in France
Lawmakers greeted the announcement of their release with a standing ovation at the National Assembly.
Context of Foreign Detentions in Iran
The pair are among dozens of foreign and dual nationals to be held in Iran in recent years, often on espionage-related charges.
Exchange Agreement and Related Developments
Iran's official news agency IRNA confirmed the couple's release, saying it followed an understanding between Tehran and Paris that France would in turn release Mahdieh Esfandiari, an Iranian student living in the French city of Lyon.
Esfandiari was arrested last year over anti-Israel social media posts. As part of the understanding, France would also withdraw a complaint against Iran in the International Court of Justice, IRNA reported.
International Reactions and Broader Implications
The release of the French couple came as U.S. President Donald Trump threatened that "a whole civilisation will die tonight" unless Iran reaches a last-minute deal with the United States to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Last Thursday a container ship belonging to French shipping group CMA CGM passed through the Strait of Hormuz, a sign that Iran may not consider France to be a hostile nation.
(Reporting by Dominique Vidalon, Elizabeth Pineau and John Irish; Writing by Makini Brice; Editing by Charlotte Van Campenhout and Gareth Jones)
Key Takeaways
- •Cécile Kohler (41) and Jacques Paris (72) were arrested in May 2022 while visiting Iran and faced lengthy espionage sentences, which France denounced as unfounded. (apnews.com)
- •They were held in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison under harsh conditions, including isolation and coerced televised confessions, drawing condemnation from human rights advocates. (euronews.com)
- •Their release appears linked to diplomatic negotiations, including a likely prisoner swap involving an Iranian student previously released by France, and was hailed by Macron as a first step toward their full return home. (yahoo.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about French nationals released from Iran, returning to France, Macron says
1Who are the French nationals released from Iran?
Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris are the French nationals freed after three and a half years of detention in Iran.
2How long were the French nationals detained in Iran?
Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris were detained for three and a half years.
3Who announced the release of the French nationals?
President Emmanuel Macron announced their release on social media platform X.
4How did French lawmakers react to the announcement?
French lawmakers greeted the announcement with a standing ovation at the National Assembly.
