French paid a prison sentence time to spy on charges

Two French citizens have received prison sentences from a court in Iran after being sentenced to espionage, Iranian state media reported.

The reports do not name the defendants, but it is believed that they are 40 -year -old Cecil Koler, and her partner Jacques Paris, 72, with the only French citizens being held in Iran. They were arrested in May 2022 during a tourist trip.

The couple is recognized guilty of spying on behalf of France and Israel, the reports said.

The announcement comes more than a month after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi said the French detainee agreement for an Iranian woman held in France is almost complete.

Earlier, Iran said that Koles and Paris could be released as part of this agreement.

Another French tourist, the 34 -year -old Olivier Grondo Issued by Iran earlier this year After receiving a five -year sentence for a “conspiracy against the Islamic Republic”.

Iranian forensic news agency Mizan said one of the defendants had been sentenced to six years in prison for spying on France, five years for conspiracy against national security and 20 years in exile for “intelligence” with Israel.

The other was sentenced to 10 years in prison for spying on France, five years for conspiracy against national security and 20 years in exile for being complicit in the cooperation of intelligence with Israel.

According to Iranian law, prison sentences are executed simultaneously. It is unclear what “exile” involves, although in other cases the convicts were sent to remote areas.

Mizan reports that their detention in the pre -trial enterprise will be deducted from their sentences and that the sentence can be challenged within 20 days.

France has accused Iran of holding Koles and Paris arbitrarily and holding them in torture -like conditions. Iran denies the allegations.

Human rights groups claim that tourists and double citizens often hold a lever in diplomatic negotiations, released only when Iran receives something in return.

Thehe The release of the British-Iranian citizens of tanning-traccliff and anhe Ashori in 2022.After years of detention, he came after months of negotiations that saw the United Kingdom to allow a debt of nearly £ 400 million from the 70s.

Koles and Paris have been declared a replacement for Mahdi Espandiars, which has been taking place in France since February on accusations of promoting terrorism in social media. Iran repeatedly calls her hold arbitrary.

Iran is believed to have about 20 Europeans in custody, according to the AFP news agency.

These include the British couple Craig and Lindsay Forman, who were detained in January while traveling through Iran on a world -class motorcycle tour and were later accused of espionage.

Their family maintains that they are innocent and are conducted in “horrific conditions”S

Last week, 18-year-old Franco-German cyclist Lenart Monterlos was released after an Iranian court justified him for spying allegations.