PARIS — France\u2019s foreign minister denounced spy charges reportedly being used to hold two French nationals in Iran for more than three years, saying the allegations are \u201cunjustified and unfounded.”<\/p>\n
French Foreign Minister Jean-No\u00ebl Barrot on Thursday said France had not been formally notified by Iranian authorities of the charges against French citizens C\u00e9cile Kohler and Jacques Paris, which reportedly include spying for Israel. <\/p>\n
If confirmed, France would consider the charges \u201ctotally unjustified and unfounded,\u201d Barrot said, calling for the couple\u2019s \u201dimmediate, unconditional release.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kohler, 40, and her partner Paris, 72, were arrested in May 2022 and until last month were detained at Tehran’s Evin Prison, known for holding dual nationals and Westerners who are used by Iran as bargaining chips in diplomatic negotiations.<\/p>\n
A French diplomat was able to meet the pair earlier this week as their families demanded proof they were alive following recent Israeli strikes on the prison<\/a>.<\/p>\n Kohler’s sister, Noemie Kohler, said in an interview broadcast Thursday on BFM TV that the couple were told they had been charged with spying for Israel, conspiracy to overthrow the Iranian regime and \u201ccorruption on Earth.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cOur understanding \u2026 is that they face death penalty,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019re really extremely worried about their psychological state and the trauma of the bombings.\u201d<\/p>\n