Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on Thursday that Iran and France are nearing a prisoner exchange agreement, potentially occurring “in the coming days.” The deal would secure the release of Mahdieh Esfandiari, an Iranian translator detained in France since February 2025 for alleged terror-related social media posts about the October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel. Esfandiari, a Lyon resident since 2018, faces charges tied to her Telegram activity, which Iran claims was solely in support of Palestinians.

While Araghchi did not specify which French prisoners might be released, France has been pressing for the freedom of Cécile Kohler, 40, and Jacques Paris, 72, detained in Iran since May 2022 on espionage charges. France has called these accusations baseless, labeling the pair “state hostages” and filing a complaint against Iran at the International Court of Justice in May 2025. The detainees’ families report no contact since late May, with conditions described as akin to torture.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, speaking on France Inter radio on Friday, declined to comment on the negotiations, emphasizing only France’s demand for the “immediate and unconditional” release of its citizens. Rights groups have accused Iran of using Western detainees as leverage in diplomatic disputes, a claim Iran denies. The proposed swap follows heightened tensions, as France, Britain, and Germany recently moved to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program violations.

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The potential exchange highlights the delicate balance of diplomacy and human rights, with both nations navigating complex bilateral relations. The outcome could set a precedent for future negotiations involving detained citizens amid ongoing geopolitical frictions.

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