Iran's Foreign Minister has claimed that negotiations for a prisoner exchange involving French hostages in Iran and an Iranian national imprisoned in France, identified as a Hamas supporter, are nearing completion. However, the French government has not confirmed this news. The outgoing French Foreign Minister refrained from commenting on the Iranian official's statements but emphasized France's demand for the "immediate" and "unconditional" release of its citizens detained in Iran.

On Thursday, the Iranian Foreign Minister stated that the exchange involving Mahdieh Esfandiari and the French prisoners is close to finalization, expressing hope for its completion in the coming days. Esfandiari was arrested in France in February for promoting terrorism on social media.

In May, France filed a complaint against Tehran at the International Court of Justice regarding the detention of Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, whom Paris considers "state hostages." Kohler, 40, and Paris, 72, were arrested in Iran on May 7, 2022, and are accused of espionage for Israel. Their families have described their conditions as "extremely concerning."

They are part of around 20 European citizens detained in Iran, including 19-year-old French-German Lenart Montrelus, who was arrested during a cycling trip between Europe and Asia amid the conflict with Israel.