Paris, July 3, 2025 — French nationals Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, imprisoned in Iran for over three years, have now been formally charged with “spying for the Mossad,” Iran’s intelligence service, their families and French diplomatic sources confirmed on Wednesday.
The charges—”espionage for Israel,” “conspiracy to overthrow the regime,” and “corruption on Earth”—are considered among the most severe in Iran’s legal system and carry the death penalty. Kohler’s sister, Noémie Kohler, relayed the development publicly, stating that the charges were read by an Iranian judge during a recent court hearing.
Kohler, a 40-year-old literature teacher, and Paris, a 72-year-old retired mathematics teacher, were arrested during a tourist visit to Iran in May 2022. Since then, they have been detained without access to independent legal counsel.
The Iranian government has not publicly confirmed the charges, nor has it announced a verdict. According to French diplomatic sources, “no sentence has yet been delivered,” but the situation remains deeply worrying.
France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs reiterated that the charges, “if confirmed,” are “totally unfounded.” President Emmanuel Macron has personally called for the couple’s release, stating in a social media post on June 21, “Their inhumane detention is unjust. I expect them to return to France.”
In a symbolic move, the French government filed an application against Iran at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on May 16, labeling Kohler and Paris as “state hostages.” The case accuses Iran of violating the Vienna Convention by denying them consular protection and due process.
Tensions escalated last week after an Israeli airstrike targeted Iran’s notorious Evin prison, where Kohler and Paris were reportedly being held. Iranian authorities claimed 71 people were killed in the attack, sparking fears among relatives who were unsure of the couple’s fate.
It wasn’t until eight days later that France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot confirmed a diplomatic visit had taken place, verifying that Kohler and Paris were alive. However, he declined to specify the location of the visit, leaving their whereabouts unknown.
Human rights groups, including Hostage Aid Worldwide, estimate that approximately 15 European and dual nationals are currently imprisoned in Iran. Activists and NGOs have long accused Tehran of engaging in “hostage diplomacy,” detaining foreign nationals to gain leverage in geopolitical negotiations.
As their ordeal drags on, Kohler and Paris’s families continue to campaign for their release, holding public demonstrations and urging international intervention. A ceremony displaying their portraits was held outside the French National Assembly in Paris earlier this year to keep public attention on the case.
Despite growing diplomatic pressure, Iran has shown no sign of releasing the couple. For now, Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris remain at the heart of a high-stakes standoff between Tehran and the West, their fate hanging in the balance.
