Two French nationals handed harsh prison sentences in Iran over spying charges

Tuesday 14 October 2025 - 16:25

By: Sahili Aya

Two French nationals handed harsh prison sentences in Iran over spying charges

Two French nationals have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms in Iran after being found guilty of espionage and collaboration with foreign intelligence services, according to Iranian state media. The ruling, which carries sentences of 31 and 32 years respectively, has further strained diplomatic relations between Tehran and Paris.

Although Iranian authorities have not officially released the names of the accused, sources close to the case told AFP that the individuals are Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, detained since May 2022. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment, while the detainees’ families and legal representatives said they learned about the verdict through the press.

Kohler and Paris, both former educators, were accused of “spying for French intelligence” and “collaborating with the Zionist regime”—charges that Paris and human rights groups have dismissed as politically motivated. Their arrests occurred during a period of increasing tension between Iran and Western nations over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program and alleged use of “hostage diplomacy.”

French lawyer Martin Pradel, representing the pair, described the ruling as “a severe blow to French diplomacy,” noting that both had already been imprisoned for months before the official trial in March 2023. The two are reportedly the only French nationals currently detained in Iran.

In recent weeks, Iranian officials had suggested that a potential prisoner swap was being negotiated between the two countries. Tehran had been calling for the release of Mahdieh Esfandiari, an Iranian translator held in France on charges of “apology for terrorism.” However, the new sentences appear to undermine the prospect of an imminent exchange.

President Emmanuel Macron recently mentioned a “solid perspective” for the release of French nationals detained abroad but remained cautious. The case adds to a growing list of Westerners imprisoned in Iran under accusations of espionage, which European governments and human rights groups view as a tool of political pressure.