France expels 2 Iranian diplomats in escalating row with Tehran
The French foreign ministry accused authorities in Iran of assaulting embassy employees last month.
France has expelled two Iranian diplomats following Tehran's detention and interrogation of two French Embassy staff members last month, according to Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot. This escalation in tensions began on July 19 when the French diplomats were questioned and reportedly beaten by Iranian security services. Paris accused Iran of a "premeditated and deliberate" act of intimidation, which violated diplomatic protections and was particularly egregious because France is allied with the Iranian people.
Barrot summoned Iran's chargé d'affaires two days after the incident, stating that the French diplomats were "scandalously and deliberately assaulted" and their treatment was "intolerable."
Iran, however, denies these allegations. The country's foreign ministry claims that the French diplomats violated the Vienna Convention by engaging in activities it considers interference in Iranian affairs. Since then, Iran has declared both diplomats persona non grata, effectively barring them from returning to Iran. French foreign ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux responded by accusing Tehran of making "completely false accusations" and fabricating an interference case to justify its expulsion of the diplomats.
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