France condemns Israeli strike on Iranian prison

France has accused Israel of endangering its citizens by striking Evin Prison in Tehran on Monday.

Iranian officials said parts of the facility were damaged in the attack. A video circulating on social media appears to show that the front entrance of the prison was targeted.

In a statement on X, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot called the strike “unacceptable” and said it had endangered French nationals Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, who were arrested during a tourist visit to Iran in 2022 on espionage charges, which they deny. Kohler’s sister, Noemie, condemned the strike as “irresponsible,” saying it had placed prisoners “in mortal danger.”

Barrot said he had spoken with his Iranian counterpart and received confirmation that both Kohler and Paris were unharmed.

French President Emmanuel Macron also criticized the attack, saying it had “nothing to do” with Israel’s stated goal of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Speaking during a visit to Norway, Macron further condemned US airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites on Sunday, calling them illegal under international law. “There is no legal basis for these strikes, even if France shares the objective of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons,” he said.

In response to the American strikes, Iran launched missiles at the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar on Monday. According to US officials, there were no casualties.

Later that evening, US President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire had been reached between Israel and Iran. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, however, denied that a ceasefire agreement was in place, though he stated that Tehran would end hostilities if Israel did so first.

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