France to Expel Two Iranian Diplomats Over Embassy Dispute in Tehran
Diplomatic Tensions Between France and Iran
Background of the Embassy Dispute
PARIS, Aug 18 (Reuters) - France will expel two Iranian diplomats in the coming days in response to an incident in July involving two staff of the French embassy in Tehran.
"I had announced that this intolerable act would have consequences. And so it has. Two Iranian diplomats in France will be expelled in the very near future," Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said in a post on X.
Details of the July Incident
Detention and Intimidation of French Embassy Staff
Last month, the French ministry said the two French embassy staff had been detained and physically intimidated by Iranian security services in Tehran.
Barrot had summoned the Iranian charge d'affaires in Paris in protest following the incident on July 19.
Iran's Response to the Dispute
Iranian Foreign Ministry's Position
Barrot's comments came one day after the Iranian ministry said two French embassy employees, who were involved in July in a diplomatic dispute in Tehran, would not be allowed to return to Iran.
Alleged Violation of the Vienna Convention
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the two French staff had violated the Vienna Convention — which defines the rules and privileges of diplomatic missions — by engaging in activities supporting Iranian civil society.
France's Official Reaction
French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux said in a statement that "the Iranian authorities have chosen to make completely false accusations against our agents and to fabricate a case of interference to justify their actions."
(Reporting by Inti LandauroEditing by Rod Nickel)