French hostages held in Iran 'free and on their way to France,' says Macron (lemonde.fr)

• Kohler and Paris freed after three-and-a-half-year detention.
• Repatriation follows extensive diplomatic negotiations.
• De-escalation of a key point of friction with Iran.

"French President Emmanuel Macron has announced the release of Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, who had been detained in Iran for over three years. The release concludes a prolonged diplomatic standoff that strained relations between France and the Islamic Republic. While details regarding the conditions of their release remain undisclosed, the French presidency confirmed they are currently in transit to France. The detention, which Tehran framed as espionage-related, has been a central point of geopolitical friction, and this development signals a potential shift in the current diplomatic engagement between Paris and Tehran."