France sues Iran at International Court over detention of two nationals

France has filed a formal application against Iran at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing Tehran of violating international law by detaining two French nationals, Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, for three years under what it calls “shameful conditions.”

The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs announced the legal action on May 16, citing Iran’s “serious and repeated breaches” of the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, Caliber.Az reports per the ministry's statement. 

According to the statement, Kohler and Paris have only been granted four highly restricted consular visits during their imprisonment.

“This situation is unacceptable and contrary to international law,” the ministry declared, emphasising France’s demand that the ICJ compels Tehran to immediately end its “violations of international law and remedy all the consequences.”

France argues that the Vienna Convention guarantees both its right to consular protection and the rights of its detained nationals to receive such protection.

The legal move follows an earlier announcement by the French foreign minister on April 2, reaffirming Paris’s intent to hold Iran accountable through international legal mechanisms. The government also reiterated its broader diplomatic efforts to secure the “immediate, unconditional release” of the two citizens.

“France will continue to use all leverage at its disposal to secure the release of its nationals,” the statement said.

Cecile Kohler, a 40-year-old literature teacher from eastern France and her partner Jacques Paris, in his 70s, were arrested on May 7, 2022, on the last day of a tourist trip to Iran.

They have been held on spying charges, which they have vehemently denied.

By Sabina Mammadli