UK – Iran International, July 03, 2025
France said on Thursday that its decision to reimpose sanctions on Iran would depend on the release of two French citizens who have been imprisoned in Tehran for three years and now face new espionage charges.
Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris were formally charged this week with spying for Israel’s Mossad, conspiracy to overthrow the regime, and “corruption on earth,” AFP reported, citing diplomatic and family sources on Wednesday.
Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the charges against the two French citizens are “totally unjustified and baseless,” adding: “If it is indeed confirmed that they are facing these charges, we would consider them completely unjustified and unfounded.” He stressed that their release is “an absolute priority” for the French government.
He added, “We have always told our interlocutors from the Iranian regime that any decision on sanctions will be conditional on resolving this issue.”
