Portraits of Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris displayed on the gates of the Assemblée Nationale in Paris, March 11, 2026. MARTIN LELIEVRE/AFP
As of Tuesday, April 7, Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, who had been held in Tehran for nearly four years and whom France described as "state hostages," are free. "Relieved and happy," said a person in the couple's close circle. Just hours before the deadline set by Donald Trump, who had vowed to destroy Iranian "civilization" if a deal with the Islamic regime was not reached by 8 pm Washington time, the 41-year-old teacher and her 72-year-old partner began their journey to Baku airport in Azerbaijan.
It took them eight hours to cross Iran by car, and another four hours to pass the border. The wait was grueling for embassy staff, who feared the process could fall apart at the last minute. The two former hostages are scheduled to land in Paris on Wednesday, where a state representative will welcome them. "This is a relief for all of us and obviously for their families. Thank you to the Omani authorities for their mediation efforts, to the State services and to the citizens who mobilized tirelessly and thus contributed to their return," said Emmanuel Macron on X on Tuesday.
