KAREN MINASYAN / AFP
Jean-Noël Barrot called on Thursday July 3 at the immediate release of the French detained in Iran.
Iran – French diplomacy increases the tone. The Minister of Foreign Affairs said this Thursday, July 3, that the Paris decision on a possible resumption of international sanctions within the framework of Iranian nuclear power “Will be conditioned” at the release of the two French people accused of espionage and detained for three years by Tehran.
“The release of Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris is an absolute priority for us”recalled Jean-Noël Barrot, calling for a release “Immediate and unconditional”.
These two French people were arrested in Iran in May 2022. They are targeted by accusations of“Espionage for mossad”the Israeli external intelligence service, “Plot to overthrow the diet” and “Corruption on earth”three counts liable to the death penalty, AFP learned from a Western diplomatic source and the entourage of prisoners on Wednesday July 2.
Until now, Iran has indicated that the two French people were accused of spying, without ever specifying for which country precisely. Tehran has not yet confirmed if new accusations had been brought against them.
« Snapback »
“We have not been formally notified by the Iranian authorities of the charges that weigh on our two compatriots. If the charges that were mentioned were confirmed, we will consider them completely unjustified and unfounded ”said the minister.
Faced with the policy of enriching Uranium of Iran, Western countries threaten Tehran with a « snapback »mechanism which makes it possible to reimpose international sanctions.
In 2015, Iran had concluded an agreement with France, Germany, the United Kingdom, China, Russia and the United States to supervise its nuclear program. The text in return provided for a reduction in international sanctions against Tehran.
In 2018, Donald Trump had unilaterally withdrawn his country from the agreement – to which Tehran compared, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (AIEA).
In retaliation, Tehran had considerably increased its reserves of enriched materials and brought the threshold to 60 %, less than 90 % necessary for the manufacture of the atomic weapon, but very far from the 3.67 % ceiling fixed by the Vienna agreement.
Resolution 2 231 of the UN Security Council, which endowed the 2015 agreement, provides for the possibility of reposing the sanctions (« snapback »). This text expires on October 18, 2025.
