Iran Warns France Against 'Illegal Interference' After 2 French Diplomats Detained In Tehran

Iran's Intelligence Ministry has issued a stern warning to France, cautioning against any illegal interference within Iran's domestic affairs. The ministry issued a statement on its website, revealing that two French diplomats were involved in a clandestine meeting in Tehran in July with suspects linked to a major case of foreign infiltration and interference.

Following an investigation, the ministry stated that the diplomats had a wealth of evidence demonstrating violations of Iran's domestic law and breaches of their diplomatic obligations. The ministry has made it clear that it will not tolerate any foreign diplomats in Iran from engaging in illegal interventionist actions, warning that any recurrence of such behavior would face "fitting" responses.

French officials were detained in Tehran on July 20, according to Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, who claimed they were mistreated, interrogated, and one was physically abused before being returned to the embassy. Barrot emphasized the shocking nature of the incident, noting that the officials were responsible for overseeing programs supporting civil society, including Iranian artists and scientists.

Barrot had previously cautioned Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi about the "serious and unacceptable" incident, and Araghchi later protested the French diplomats' "unconventional actions" through a phone call, deeming them a violation of diplomatic norms and utterly unacceptable.