Tehran–Paris Prisoner Exchange: New Details Emerge from Iran–France Negotiations
Rokna Political Desk: Negotiations between Iran and France over a potential prisoner exchange have reportedly made progress, raising hopes that in the coming weeks two French citizens detained in Iran and one Iranian citizen held in France could be released.
According to Rokna, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot expressed optimism on Monday regarding the prospect of a prisoner swap between Tehran and Paris in the near future. Speaking to Radio France Internationale (RFI), Barrot said,
“We are very hopeful about bringing home our French citizens detained in Iran within the coming weeks.”
He called for the immediate and unconditional release of the French nationals, adding that France “has taken all necessary steps” to secure their freedom.
Reuters reported that both Iran and France have confirmed progress in talks concerning the release of two French citizens held in Iran in exchange for an Iranian national imprisoned in France.
The two French citizens, Cécile Kohler and her partner Jacques Paris, were arrested in 2022 on espionage charges. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has proposed exchanging them for Mahdieh Esfandiari, an Iranian student detained in Lyon, France.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the final decision on the matter “is under review” and that a resolution is expected soon.
In a related development, Lennart Montherlos, a French-German dual national previously detained in Iran, has been acquitted of espionage charges. France, for its part, suspended its case against Iran at the International Court of Human Rights in September — a move widely interpreted as a sign of progress toward a potential agreement.
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