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Iran Signals Prisoner Swap with France — Two French Nationals Could Return Within Two Months

04:52 AM, 11/27/2025
Iran Signals Prisoner Swap with France — Two French Nationals Could Return Within Two Months

Iran's foreign minister says Tehran and Paris have negotiated a prisoner exchange that could return two French nationals to France within two months in exchange for an Iranian detainee. The French citizens, arrested in May 2022, were released from prison but remain at France's embassy in Tehran awaiting permission to leave. The Iranian involved, Mahdieh Esfandiari, is on bail and staying at Iran's embassy in Paris ahead of a January trial. France has not publicly confirmed the deal.

Iran's foreign minister said on Wednesday that Tehran and Paris have negotiated a prisoner exchange that could see two French citizens held in Iran returned home within the next two months in exchange for an Iranian national detained in France.

In an interview with France 24 after talks in Paris with his French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot, Abbas Araghchi said: "An exchange was negotiated between us and France." He added that the arrangement awaits completion of legal and judicial processes in both countries and expressed hope it would be finalized within two months.

The two French nationals, Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, were arrested in May 2022. They were released from prison earlier this month but remain at the French embassy in Tehran while they wait for permission to leave the country.

The Iranian national involved is Mahdieh Esfandiari. French authorities say she was arrested in France in February on charges of promoting "terrorism" on social media. Esfandiari was released on bail last month and is currently staying at Iran’s embassy in Paris ahead of a trial scheduled to begin on January 13.

"The verdict has been issued (against Kohler and Paris), but based on Iranian law, prisoners can be exchanged in the interest of national security, and the exchange process is decided within the framework of Iran's Supreme National Security Council," Araghchi said.

France has not publicly confirmed or denied the existence of a formal exchange agreement. Paris has previously described Kohler and Jacques Paris as "state hostages," and their families have consistently rejected espionage charges as fabricated.

The case fits a broader pattern of Western citizens being detained in Iran in recent years. Iran says it has previously conducted swaps of Western detainees for Iranians held abroad while maintaining that foreign nationals are tried and convicted in accordance with Iranian law.

Key points:

  • Tehran says a negotiated swap could be completed within two months.
  • Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris were released from prison but remain at the French embassy in Tehran pending exit permission.
  • Mahdieh Esfandiari is on bail in France and staying at Iran's embassy in Paris ahead of a January trial.
  • France has not confirmed the deal; both sides await legal and judicial procedures.

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