By Parisa Hafezi

DUBAI (Reuters – Iran’s State Television showed details about the arrests of two French citizens in Iran earlier this month. They were described by state TV as spies trying to provoke unrest.

Iran’s intelligence minister had stated that it had detained two Europeans accused of inciting “insecurity” within Iran on May 11. However, they had not disclosed their nationalities.

France has called their arrests baseless and demanded that they be released immediately. The incident could complicate relations between the two countries since it is possible for wider negotiations to revive a nuclear deal to stall.

The two were identified by state TV as Cecile Paris, 37, and Jacques Paris. They added that the “spies” intended to cause unrest in Iran, organizing protests for trade unions. The matter has not been commented on by the Iranian judiciary.

Paris, France: A request to comment on Iranian television claims was not answered by the French Foreign Ministry immediately.

Iranian teachers protested in Iran over the past months demanding higher wages and better working conditions. Numerous of them were arrested.

The group traveled to Iran in tourists. They were tourists who visited Iran. But, they participated in anti-government demonstrations and met members the so-called Teachers Association.” It said that Kohler and Paris had been seen apparently speaking in a meeting with protesting Iranian teachers.

They were seen arriving at Tehran’s International Imam Khomeini Airport, Turkey on April 28th with Turkish Airlines. Their arrest was also shown on the TV.

Christophe Lalande (federal secretary, France’s FNEC FP–FO education union) told Reuters that he believed one of his employees and her husband had gone missing while on holiday in Iran.

French nationals were also detained in Iran, on national security charges that they claim are politically motivated by their lawyers.

Rights groups claim Iran is trying to get concessions for other countries via such arrests. Iran repeatedly denied the accusation.

The West demands that Tehran release its citizens. They claim they are political prisoners.

They were taken into custody a week after another French citizen was detained in Iran. As the United States, Iran and the parties to the 2015 nuclear deal are trying to restore it after Trump’s 2018 departure, the detentions have come at a delicate time.