French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has called on French citizens to avoid traveling to Iran and urged those currently in the country to leave.

Speaking before the French Senate's Foreign Affairs Committee, Barrot stated, "I take this opportunity to urge all our citizens and nationals not to travel to Iran and for those currently there to return to France and leave the country so as not to risk arbitrary detention or being held hostage."

Barrot did not specify the number of French nationals currently in Iran, but Paris has repeatedly expressed regret over French citizens continuing to travel to Iran, particularly for tourism, despite warnings.

The minister reminded the committee that two French nationals, whom Paris considers "state hostages," remain detained in Iran. Diplomatic efforts to secure their release have been ongoing for more than two years.

Iran has been holding French language teacher Cécile Kohler and her partner Jacques Paris since May 2022 on charges of "espionage." They are being held in solitary confinement at Evin Prison in Tehran and have not received consular visits for over a year. Last week, Barrot announced that Paris would "soon" file a complaint with the International Court of Justice for "violating the right to consular protection."