France has accused the Iranian government of holding its citizens hostage after a video of the French couple aired on Iranian state television.
According to Arab News, in a video broadcast on Thursday, the couple was forced to confess to spying.
In May of this year, French woman Cecilia Koehler and her accomplice Jacques Paris were arrested in Iran on charges of inciting unrest.
France condemned the arrest and demanded his immediate release.
In the video, Jacques Paris said, "Our goal in the French security service is to put pressure on the Iranian government."
Anne Claire, spokeswoman for the French Foreign Office, said that the drama of the alleged confession of French citizens is outrageous, terrifying, unacceptable and in violation of international law.
He said that this shows the Iranian government's hatred for humanity, that there is no basis for this alleged confession taken under pressure, and there is no justification for the arrest.
The French couple's video comes as nationwide protests continue in Iran against the killing of Mehsa Amini, and France has criticized the Iranian government for cracking down on protesters.
Human rights organizations say that between 2010 and 2020, forced statements from 350 people have appeared on Iranian state media.
Four French nationals are already in Iranian jails and the French government is trying to determine whether another of its nationals was arrested by Iranian police during the recent protests.
Two days ago, social activists and 19 human rights organizations in Iran wrote an open letter calling on US President Joe Biden to address the regime's violent crackdown and human rights crisis in Iran.
