Iran reported the arrest of two French nationals for inciting disturbance by taking part in teacher protests on Tuesday.
Iran’s state television aired a documentary about the duo’s arrest by intelligence operatives and their activities in Iran, referring to them as “spies.”
Cecile Kohler, aged 37, and Chuck Paris, aged 69, were identified as visitors who visited Iran, according to French officials.
Iran’s Intelligence Ministry confirmed the arrest of “two European nationals” on May 11, without specifying their nationality.
The couple had been sent by “foreign conspirators” to carry out disruptive actions in the country, according to the ministry.
A day later, France denounced the “illegal arrest” of two French citizens and requested their immediate detention.
According to the French Foreign Ministry, its envoy in Tehran is seeking consular access to the two, and a senior official from the Iranian Embassy in Paris has been summoned for explanations.
Iran’s state media acknowledged that the detainees were French citizens representatives of a famous French education trade union – who had met with protesting teachers and taken part in previous protests in Iran for salary hikes and working conditions, according to Iranian state television.
The film gives only a little information about their detention earlier this month, describing them as spies who planned to incite trouble by organizing anti-government protests.
Their arrival at Tehran airport on April 28, their encounters with Iranian protesting teachers, their involvement in a protest gathering, and finally their arrest are all captured on film.
