French Couple Freed from Iran After 3 Years

0:00On April 7th, a French couple's finally heading home after over three years locked up in Iran on bogus spine charges. Cecile Kohler, 41, and Jacques Paris, 72, got nabbed back in May 2022 during a tourist trip. French President Emmanuel Macron broke the news Tuesday, calling it a huge relief for everyone involved. They did hard time in Tehran's tough Evan prison before getting freed last November and shipped it to House arrest at the French Embassy. An Iranian court had slapped Paris with 17 years and Kohler with 20, but that all got overturned in a deal. They rolled out at dawn, Tuesday, in a diplomatic convoy with the French ambassador, now crossing into neighboring Azerbaijan. Families are over the moon, Paris's daughter Ann Lour just wants to wrap them in a massive hug. Macron posted thanks to Oman for playing mediator, while foreign minister Jean Noel Barout said he chatted with them by phone and heard their raw joy, about reuniting with loved ones back home.

1:02This swap freed an Iranian woman, Maddie Esfandriari, ending her House arrest in France over social media posts. Iran confirmed the agreement, but France kept quiet on details, crediting long-term diplomatic grind and embassy staff who kept them safe under pressure. With Middle East tensions boiling from recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, France stay focused on getting its people out without jumping into them. Frey proof that steady back channel work can still deliver wins. From around the world, powered by AI, this is Global News Today. I'm Corey with The Story.