Two French citizens, Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, who have been held in detention for more than three years in Iran, have been accused of "espionage" for Mossad, diplomatic sources and family members told AFP news agency on Wednesday. The sources denied the Iranian allegations.
They were charged with "conspiracy to overthrow the regime," a Western diplomatic source and Kohler's sister reported. "All we know is that they were brought before a judge who confirmed the indictments."
The charges represent a significant escalation in the case of the two French nationals, whose detention has strained relations between Paris and Tehran. French diplomatic sources have consistently maintained the innocence of both individuals throughout their prolonged imprisonment.
The accusations come amid heightened tensions between Iran and Western nations, with Tehran frequently using detained foreign nationals as leverage in diplomatic negotiations. France has repeatedly called for the immediate release of its citizens, describing their detention as arbitrary and politically motivated.
