French authorities released an Iranian citizen on Wednesday, with Tehran saying it was part of a deal involving the release of French citizens serving heavy prison sentences in the Iranian capital.
“Our citizen in France, Ms. Esfandiari, is now free, she is in our embassy, and hopefully she will return after the trial is over,” Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday expressed “great relief” after two French citizens, Cecile Kohler, 41, and her partner Jacques Paris, 72, were released from Iran’s notorious Evin prison.
Who are the freed French citizens?
Kohler and Paris were detained in 2022 while traveling in Iran as tourists. He was accused of espionage and imprisoned in a Tehran prison, which is known for holding political prisoners and detainees. Paris condemned his detention as “unfair and baseless”.
There was a push to release him after Iranian media reports said he was convicted of espionage and sentenced to a long prison sentence in October.
Although the judiciary website did not name the defendants, the semi-official Fars news agency identified them as a French pair.
Kohler and Paris “are out of Evin prison and on their way to the French embassy in Tehran,” Macron posted on Twitter on Tuesday. “I welcome this first step,” Macron posted on Twitter on Tuesday. “Talks are ongoing for his return to France as soon as possible.”
The French ambassador to Tehran told French radio station RTL on Wednesday that Macron had spoken to the pair via videoconference.
Pierre Cochard said, “It was very emotional for him and for the President. He thanked him for the commitment to see him freed.”
Who is the freed Iranian citizen?
France earlier this year arrested an Iranian citizen living in the French city of Lyon over anti-Israel social media posts.
In October, Iranian authorities said Mahdieh Esfandiari was placed under house arrest after being detained on charges of glorifying terrorist acts, including Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel, on social media.
The French AFP news agency reported that last month French and Iranian officials had discussed freeing Esfandiari as part of a deal in which Kohler and Paris would also be freed.
Observers say the timing suggests both cases may have been part of a prisoner exchange.
Edited by: Rana Taha