According to Le Républicain Lorrain, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot spoke on Saturday with Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, who have been detained for nearly four years. They were sentenced in October to 20 and 17 years in prison respectively for espionage, notably for Israel. In early November, they were released from detention but are prohibited from leaving Iranian territory and are assigned to the French embassy in Tehran.
The families of Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris said on Tuesday they were 'very worried' due to the numerous bombings hitting the Iranian capital. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot spoke with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday, as confirmed by Le Républicain Lorrain and NRK Nyheter. CNN Greece reports that the telephone conversation occurred yesterday, after what it described as the war that broke out following attacks by the US and Israel against Iran.
I spoke with them today. They are going through a very difficult ordeal and they are showing, as they have for nearly four years, extraordinary courage.
The French Foreign Ministry, via CNN Greece, stated that the minister condemned the Iranian strikes, recalled France's commitment to stability in the Middle East, de-escalation, and the resumption of a demanding diplomatic dialogue, and respect for international law on which the use of force should be based. Barrot also expressed 'France's persistent concern' for the fate of 'nationals held in Iran' and demanded their 'immediate and unconditional release'. According to CNN Greece, Barrot said in a separate statement, 'I spoke with them today.
' Regarding embassy operations, Barrot stated, 'The diplomatic staff present in Tehran are carrying out their mission in a very degraded context, showing a lot of dedication. And part of the mission is precisely to ensure the safety of Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris. ) They will continue to carry out their mission.
We will continue to do everything to obtain their immediate return to France and their definitive release.
' The minister has ruled out for now the hypothesis of an evacuation of the French embassy. Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris are awaiting a potential exchange with an Iranian national, Mahdieh Esfandiari, who was sentenced by French justice to one year in prison at the end of February. The exact conditions or timeline for the 'immediate and unconditional release' demanded by France remain unclear.
The Iranian government's response to France's demands for the release of its nationals has not been disclosed. The current status of the potential exchange with Mahdieh Esfandiari is also unknown.