Iran Confirms Imminent Prisoner Swap With France
Exchange involving Kohler, Paris, and Esfandiari expected within two months as Iran asserts its legal sovereignty and challenges Western pressure
Iran, PUREWILAYAH.COM - Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that a long-discussed prisoner exchange between Iran and France is nearing completion, marking a significant diplomatic development amid strained bilateral relations.
The exchange involves French nationals Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, and Iranian citizen Mahdieh Esfandiari, who is currently facing charges in France.
Araghchi made the announcement during an interview with France 24 following discussions in Paris with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, stating that the agreement could be finalized within the next two months.
French Nationals Await Departure After Release
Kohler and Paris, arrested in May 2022 on charges of acting against Iran’s national security, were released from Evin Prison earlier this month.
However, they remain inside the French embassy in Tehran, unable to leave until legal steps are completed.
“There has been an agreement… we are waiting for the entire legal and judicial process to take place in both countries,” Araghchi said.
He emphasized that Iran’s laws allow foreign prisoners to be exchanged when national security interests are involved, with the final decision falling under the Supreme National Security Council.
Esfandiari Case: Iran Pushes Back Against Western Accusations
On the French side of the exchange, Iranian national Mahdieh Esfandiari was arrested in February 2025 on what Tehran describes as politically motivated charges of “promoting terrorism” on social media — accusations widely seen as part of Paris’s pressure tactics against Iranian nationals.
Esfandiari is set to stand trial on January 13, but is currently out on bail and residing at the Iranian embassy in Paris, after French authorities were forced to ease her detention conditions.
Despite the ongoing legal process, France has declined to confirm the swap publicly, even though both governments acknowledged progress in negotiations following October discussions.
Charges Rooted in Security Concerns, Not Western Narratives
Iran has repeatedly defended the arrests of Kohler and Paris, stating that both individuals were engaged in covert activities linked to the French intelligence services, with cooperative ties to “Israel”.
Tehran maintains that the pair were working to undermine Iran’s internal stability — allegations France has dismissed but which Iranian courts upheld after extensive investigation.
Their detention became a focal point of France’s political messaging, while Iran consistently stressed the independence of its judiciary and rejected foreign interference.
Diplomatic Resolution After Years of Tension
Relations between the two countries have deteriorated in recent years due to France’s open alignment with Western pressure campaigns against Iran, including sanctions and intelligence operations.
The prisoner exchange, once finalized, will represent a rare moment of constructive engagement, driven by Iran’s insistence on legal reciprocity, national sovereignty, and protection of its citizens abroad.
As Araghchi noted, the process is now primarily technical and legal.
“We hope the exchange will be completed within two months,” he affirmed.
For now, all eyes remain on Paris and Tehran as both sides move toward a deal shaped by security realities — and by Iran’s refusal to bow to Western political manipulation of judicial cases. (PW)