Overview

• The two were sentenced this week in Tehran to 10 and 6 years on espionage and national-security charges, with Iran’s judiciary outlet Mizan announcing the verdict without naming them.
• Sources identified the convicts as teacher-union activists Cécile Kohler, 41, and Jacques Paris, 72, with Iranian reports citing additional component penalties and the rule that only the heaviest term applies.
• Tehran says a prisoner exchange with France is in a final phase, centered on trading them for Mahdieh Esfandiari, arrested in France on February 28 for alleged glorification of terrorism, including praise of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.
• France’s foreign minister said on October 6 there were solid prospects to bring them home in the coming weeks and reiterated a demand for their immediate and unconditional release.
• Families warn the pair are exhausted and that their survival is at stake after a brief monitored video call, say their whereabouts have been unknown since a June transfer, and criticize France’s withdrawal of its ICJ case.