After over three years detained in Iran—including a recent conditional release from prison to house arrest at the French embassy—Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris are now fully free. They departed Tehran by road early Tuesday in a diplomatic convoy and reached Azerbaijan, bound for Paris on Wednesday. President Emmanuel Macron announced the news, crediting Omani mediators.
Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, French nationals detained in Iran since May 2022 on espionage charges, have concluded their three-and-a-half-year ordeal. Following their conditional release from Tehran's Evin prison in November 2025 and four months under house arrest at the French embassy, the couple left Iran overland early Tuesday in a diplomatic convoy led by ambassador Pierre Cochard.
By Tuesday afternoon, they had arrived in Azerbaijan, per sources close to Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot. Their flight to Paris is set for Wednesday.
Emmanuel Macron confirmed on X: “They are free and on their way to French territory.” He voiced relief echoed by their families and thanked Omani authorities for mediation, alongside French state services and public support.
This final step stems from an agreement with Tehran, marking the end of detention for France's last two nationals held there.
