TwoFrenchnationals who returned home Wednesday afterbeing held for almost four yearsinIransaid they had never given up hope and would speak out about the "daily horror" of their Iranian prison.

Cecile Kohler, 41, and Jacques Paris, 72, landed in Paris earlier Wednesday, with PresidentEmmanuel Macronhailing "the end of a terrible ordeal" before he greeted them at the Elyse Palace.

The pair, arrested on espionage charges their families have denied, were imprisoned for three years before being sent to house arrest at the French embassy last November.

Read moreFrance condemns Iran over 'arbitrary' jail terms for two detained nationals

Their fate became even more uncertain after US-Israeli strikes on Iranstarted on February 28.

They finally left war-torn Iran early Tuesday, as US PresidentDonald Trumpthreatened"complete demolition"of the Islamic republic if it did not reopen a vital waterway, before he announced atwo-week suspension of bombinglater in the day.

The pair travelled in a diplomatic convoy with the French ambassador and arrived inAzerbaijan's capital Baku later in the day.

"For us, this is a fresh start. We're not broken," Paris said in the Elysee gardens after meeting Macron.

"We're going to share our stories, we're going to explain things, and we're going to enjoy life, reconnect with all our loved ones and move forward," he added.

Kohler said they had been subjected to "daily horror" and constant uncertainty inside Tehran's Evin prison.

But "we kept our hopes up right to the end", she added, expressing her "immense joy" at being reunited with her loved ones.

'Double cause for satisfaction'

Macron earlier had greeted the pair, who appeared in good spirits, and smiled as the French leader embraced them.

"This marks the end of a terrible ordeal lasting three and a half years," Macron had said at a meeting of top defence and security officials earlier Wednesday.

"We are absolutely delighted that they have arrived on French soil," he said, thankingOmanfor its mediation efforts.

Officials and their supporters celebrated the return.

Marie Zandonella, a childhood friend of Kohler's, said their release came as "a huge relief for everyone".

"We know the family very well, and the whole ordeal has been incredibly difficult," she said.

An Iranian diplomatic source welcomed the news.

"The ceasefire announced in Iran and the return of the two French nationals is a double cause for satisfaction," the source said.

A source close to French Foreign MinisterJean-Nol Barrotsaid that "what secured their release was the current situation".

"If anything dramatic had happened to our compatriots, the reaction would have been fierce," the source added.

Possible exchange

Kohler and Paris both teachers, although Paris is retired were arrested in May 2022 at the end of a trip to Iran that their families say was for tourism.

At the end of a closed-door trial, an Iranian court in October sentenced them to jail on espionage charges their families say were fabricated.

Read more'Free and on their way to France': Ccile Kohler and Jacques Paris released by Iran, says Macron

The tribunal jailed Paris for 17 years and Kohler for 20 years for allegedly spying for France and Israel.

They were released from Evin prison the following month.

The pair were among a number of Europeans caught up in what activists and some Western governments describe as Iran's deliberate strategy ofhostage-taking to extract concessionsfrom the West.

Tehran had earlier suggested that Iranian national Mahdieh Esfandiari could be exchanged for Kohler and Paris.

Esfandiari wassentenced by a French court in Februaryto one year in prison for justifying terrorism over comments she made on social media, including on Palestinian militant groupHamas's attack on Israel onOctober 7, 2023.

Her house arrest order was lifted following the French pair's departure from Iran, her lawyer said.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

Originally published on France24