Macron demands Iran free French hostages amid rising Israel tensions

DDM News

French President Emmanuel Macron has made a direct appeal to Iran’s newly elected leader, Masoud Pezeshkian, urging the immediate release of two French citizens held by Iranian authorities for over three years.

In his message, Macron pressed the Iranian president to release Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, who he described as “hostages of the Iranian regime.”

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that the French President made the remarks during a call with Pezeshkian and in a series of posts on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday evening.

Macron emphasized that both French nationals have been held under “unacceptable conditions,” and their release is a top priority for France.

He also warned that Iran must not target French diplomatic missions or nationals in the Middle East amid the rising regional instability.

Tensions between Iran and Israel have escalated sharply in recent days following Iranian missile strikes on Israeli territory between Friday and Saturday.

Images shared online revealed residential homes flattened by the impact, with several other buildings left partially destroyed.

Israel’s emergency medical services reported that at least 21 individuals were wounded and required evacuation in the coastal plain area after one of the strikes.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have reportedly conducted dozens of retaliatory airstrikes on Iranian-linked targets over the past few weeks, increasing fears of a wider regional conflict.

In light of these events, Macron urged Pezeshkian to return to the negotiating table over Iran’s controversial nuclear programme, calling it the only viable route to de-escalation.

According to Macron, France remains willing to assist and coordinate international efforts to stabilize the region and prevent further conflict.

“I therefore invited President Pezeshkian to return swiftly to the negotiating table,” Macron stated on X. “We stand ready to contribute and mobilize all our efforts to achieve that goal.”

The ongoing imprisonment of Kohler and Paris has remained a point of diplomatic friction between Paris and Tehran, with the French government insisting their detention is politically motivated.

Both individuals were arrested in 2022, accused by Iranian authorities of espionage—charges Paris has repeatedly denied.

Macron’s intervention comes as newly elected President Pezeshkian begins forming his administration, following a contentious electoral process in Iran.

Observers suggest Macron’s direct outreach signals a renewed push by European powers to prevent further military escalation between Iran and Israel, especially as the region reels from ongoing instability in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria.

While Iran maintains that its actions are defensive, international pressure continues to mount for all parties to exercise restraint.

France, a signatory to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, has remained a key voice in advocating for a diplomatic resolution to the nuclear standoff since the United States withdrew from the agreement in 2018.

Diplomats fear that without renewed talks, Iran could continue its uranium enrichment, pushing the region closer to an irreversible tipping point.

Meanwhile, international human rights groups continue to raise concerns over the treatment of foreign nationals in Iranian detention facilities, calling for urgent international oversight and intervention.

As of press time, the Iranian government has not officially responded to Macron’s demands or clarified the status of the French detainees.

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