Detained for years in Iran, Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris are free and on their way to France

Published on 07/04/2026 - 16:18 GMT+2

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that the erstwhile detainees successful Iran, Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris"are escaped and connected their mode backmost to French soil", successful a connection posted connected X connected Tuesday 7 April, amid the struggle successful the Middle East.

"This is simply a alleviation for each of america and, of course, for their families", added the caput of state, thanking the"Omani authorities for their mediation efforts, the authorities services and the citizens who mobilised tirelessly and frankincense helped unafraid their return".

Also connected X, French overseas curate Jean-Noël Barrot said helium had spoken by telephone with the 2 erstwhile detainees: "They expressed to maine however moved they were and their joyousness astatine soon being reunited with their state and their loved ones".

After much than 3 years successful detention, the 41-year-old French teacher and her partner, a 72-year-old retired teacher, were sentenced past October to 20 and seventeen years successful situation respectively for spying, notably connected behalf of Israel, past released successful aboriginal November but banned from leaving Iranian territory. Since their merchandise they had been confined to the French embassy successful Tehran.

Diplomats worked to get their merchandise and repatriation, successful a discourse made adjacent much hard by the warfare successful Iran, which broke retired connected 28 February. Jean-Noël Barrot had again spoken connected Sunday with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi.