On Tuesday January 7, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, advised French nationals against traveling to Iranian soil.
“I ask our compatriots not to go” there, until “the complete release” of the French detainees, of whom there are three, he said.
“They are detained unjustly (…), in unworthy conditions,” denounced the boss of the Quai d’Orsay.
“Our hostages must be freed.” The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, called on Tuesday January 7 for French nationals not to travel to Iran until “complete liberation” French detainees, officially three in number. “The situation of our compatriots hostages in Iran is simply unacceptable: they have been detained unjustly for several years, in unworthy conditions.”indicated the boss of the Quai d’Orsay during the conference of ambassadors.
“Since the election of President Pezeshkian and despite our efforts to engage at the highest level, their situation has deteriorated”continued the minister, appointed under Michel Barnier and reappointed under François Bayrou. “I say to the Iranian authorities: our hostages must be released. Our bilateral relations and the future of sanctions depend on it. And until the complete release of our hostages, I ask our compatriots not to go to Iran. “
Three nationals detained
A French couple, Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, have been detained in Iran since May 2022 and accused by the authorities of “espionage”, which their relatives deny. A third Frenchman, named Olivier but whose last name has not been made public, has also been detained since 2022. Paris describes these prisoners as“state hostages”.
Iran, which detains several Western or binational nationals, is accused by their supporters and NGOs of using them as a state-to-state bargaining chip.
Canada
