Two French citizens have been handed substantial prison sentences in Iran following their conviction on espionage charges, according to Iranian state media. While the defendants were not named in the reports, they are widely believed to be Cecile Kohler, 40, and her partner Jacques Paris, 72. The couple, who are the only French nationals currently held in Iran, were arrested in May 2022 during a tourist visit.
The pair have been found guilty of spying for both France and Israel. This development comes shortly after Iran’s Foreign Minister indicated that a deal to exchange French detainees for an Iranian woman held in France was nearing completion. Previously, Iran had suggested that Kohler and Paris could be released as part of this agreement.
Another French tourist, Olivier Grondeau, 34, was released earlier this year after serving a five-year sentence for “conspiracy against the Islamic republic”. Iranian judicial news agency Mizan reported that one defendant received a six-year sentence for spying for France, five years for conspiracy against national security, and a 20-year exile for “intelligence co-operation” with Israel. The second defendant was sentenced to 10 years for spying for France, five years for conspiracy against national security, and a 20-year exile for complicity in intelligence co-operation with Israel.
Under Iranian law, sentences are served concurrently. The exact nature of the “exile” penalties remains unclear, though it has previously involved relocation to remote areas. Mizan also stated that pre-trial detention would be deducted from the sentences, and the verdicts can be appealed within 20 days. France has described the detention of Kohler and Paris as arbitrary and alleged they are held in torturous conditions, claims that Iran denies.
Human rights organizations suggest that tourists and dual nationals are often detained by Iran as a bargaining chip in diplomatic negotiations. The release of British-Iranian nationals Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori in 2022, after years of detention, followed lengthy negotiations that resulted in the UK settling a significant historical debt with Iran.
Kohler and Paris were reportedly considered for exchange for Mahdieh Esfandiari, who is being held in France on terrorism promotion charges via social media, charges Iran has consistently labeled as arbitrary.
Reports suggest Iran currently detains approximately 20 Europeans. This includes British couple Craig and Lindsay Foreman, arrested in January during a motorcycle tour and subsequently charged with espionage. Their family asserts their innocence and claims they are being held in “horrific conditions”. Recently, 18-year-old French-German cyclist Lennart Monterlos was released after an Iranian court acquitted him of espionage charges.