French ex-hostages recount years in Iranian detention after return

Benjamin Brière, who was detained in Iran for four years, described his post-release administrative ordeals in France, including surreal interactions at a French tax office. The finance ministry (Bercy) said it regrets the misadventure.

Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, French nationals held in Iran from 2022 to 2025, described their three-year detention as "inhumaine" when speaking on France 2's 20 heures program. They returned to France on Wednesday, 8 April, after several months at the French embassy in Tehran where they were under house arrest.