Iran has broadcast what it described as details of the arrest of two French citizens earlier this month — calling them "spies" who had sought to stir up unrest.
The country's intelligence ministry on May 11 said it arrested two Europeans, accused of stirring up insecurity in Iran. Officials did not reveal their nationalities.
France has condemned their detention as baseless and demanded their immediate release, Reuters reported.
On Tuesday, Iranian state television named the two as Cecile Kohler, 37, and her partner Jacques Paris, 69.
It said "the two spies intended to foment unrest in Iran by organising trade union protests". Iran's judiciary has yet to comment on the matter.
In Washington, US State Department spokesman Ned Price called for their immediate release.
In recent months, Iranian teachers across the country have staged protests demanding better wages and working conditions, state media reports show. Dozens of them have been arrested.
"They travelled to Iran as tourists … But they took part in anti-government protests and met members of the so-called Teachers' Association," state TV said, showing Ms Kohler and Mr Paris apparently talking in a meeting with people who it said were protesting Iranian teachers.
The detentions come at a sensitive time, as the US and parties to Iran's 2015 nuclear deal struggle to restore the pact that was abandoned in 2018 by then US president Donald Trump.
The TV footage showed what it said was their arrival from Turkey at Tehran's International Imam Khomeini Airport on April 28, as well as their arrest on their way to the airport on May 7.
Christophe Lalande, federal secretary of France's Fnec FP-FO education union, told Reuters last week on Thursday that he suspected that one of his staffers and her husband were missing on a holiday in Iran.
Two other French citizens are being held in Iran on national security charges their lawyers say are politically motivated.
Rights groups have accused Iran of trying to extract concessions from other countries through such arrests. Iran has repeatedly dismissed the charge.
Western powers have long demanded that Tehran free their citizens, who they say are political prisoners.
The two French citizens were arrested a week after a Swedish citizen was also detained in Iran.
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City, Tuesday, 11pm (UAE)
Matches can be watched on BeIN Sports
