Cécile Kohler's Family Spoke to Her for First Time Since Her Arrest in Iran

French Cécile Kohler/ Viral Photo
French Cécile Kohler/ Viral Photo
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Cécile Kohler's Family Spoke to Her for First Time Since Her Arrest in Iran

French Cécile Kohler/ Viral Photo
French Cécile Kohler/ Viral Photo

The family of Cécile Kohler, a Frenchwoman detained in Iran, was able to speak to her for the first time since her arrest in May, through a video call on WhatsApp last Sunday, her support committee announced on Saturday.

“The interview, which lasted for few minutes, had not been announced. It took place under surveillance. Wearing a veil, Cécile could not speak freely” said the "Freedom for Cécile" committee in a press release.

According to her family members, “she was in tears” when they answered the call.

“We felt she was psychologically suffering, especially because she was unable to have any contact with her family for more than seven months," the committee added.

Her family voiced extreme concern, saying their daughter was suffering, but said they were “relieved to have finally had direct contact.”

Cécile Kohler and her partner Jacques Paris have been detained in Iran since May 2022 when they were visiting as tourists. Tehran accuses them of espionage.



Zelenskiy Hails ‘Positive Movement’ in Relations with US

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy looks on during a meeting with members of the media on the outskirts of London, Britain, March 2, 2025. (Reuters)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy looks on during a meeting with members of the media on the outskirts of London, Britain, March 2, 2025. (Reuters)
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Zelenskiy Hails ‘Positive Movement’ in Relations with US

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy looks on during a meeting with members of the media on the outskirts of London, Britain, March 2, 2025. (Reuters)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy looks on during a meeting with members of the media on the outskirts of London, Britain, March 2, 2025. (Reuters)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday there had been "positive movement" in cooperation with the United States that could lead to another meeting between the two sides soon.

Kyiv is eager to repair ties with its top military supporter against Russia's invasion after Zelenskiy publicly clashed with US President Donald Trump in the White House last week over how to end the war in Ukraine.

"Today our Ukrainian and US teams began working on a meeting. Andriy Yermak and Mike Waltz spoke," Zelenskiy said in his evening address, referring to his chief of staff and the US national security adviser.

"There is positive movement. We hope for the first results next week."

Yermak said on X he had "exchanged views on security issues and the alignment of positions" with Waltz, and that they had scheduled a meeting of Ukrainian and US officials "in the near future to continue this important work".

Both statements came just hours after CIA Director John Ratcliffe said the US had paused intelligence-sharing with Ukraine.