Iran-France Prisoner Swap Deal Nears Completion

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that a prisoner swap deal between Iran and France is nearing completion, involving the exchange of French detainees Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, held in Iran, for Iranian woman Mahdieh Esfandiari, detained in France. Esfandiari, a linguist and university professor, has been imprisoned in France since February on charges related to her social media posts condemning Israel’s actions, which Iran deems unjust detention. Kohler and Paris, arrested in Iran in May 2022 and accused of spying for Israel, face severe charges including the death penalty, and their families describe their conditions as increasingly desperate. Iran has demanded Esfandiari's release and criticized France's delay in sharing information, while France has filed a case against Iran at the International Court of Justice over the French detainees. The French government has labeled Kohler and Paris as state hostages and linked the resolution of their case to its stance on reimposing sanctions against Iran under the 2015 nuclear agreement. Both countries continue diplomatic efforts to finalize the swap, which would potentially ease tensions amid ongoing geopolitical disputes.