Overview

• Iran’s judiciary outlet Mizan said the first-instance verdicts cover two French citizens arrested on March 9, 2023.
• One defendant received six years for spying for French intelligence, and the other received ten years, with additional penalties linked to Israeli intelligence and national security offenses.
• Under Iranian sentencing rules only the heaviest penalty is applied, and the verdicts can be appealed to the Supreme Court within 20 days.
• France’s foreign ministry declined to say whether the convicted are Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, who were detained in May 2022 on separate espionage accusations.
• Tehran has indicated a prisoner-swap with Paris is nearing its final phase involving Iranian national Mahdieh Esfandiari, as recent cases include the acquittal and return of Franco‑German Lennart Monterlos.