France has decided to expel two Iranian diplomats currently residing in the country. This announcement was made by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot via the social media platform X. The move follows an incident in July when Iranian security officials detained, interrogated, and threatened two staff members of the French embassy in Tehran. Iran has also decided to bar these French embassy employees from returning to the country, while France has categorically rejected the Iranian allegations.
Kathmandu, August 19 – France will expel two Iranian diplomats from its territory. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot informed via X on Tuesday that the diplomats will be expelled within the coming days.
This decision comes after Iranian security forces detained and interrogated two French embassy staff in Tehran in July, an act France described as a violation of diplomatic immunity and “extremely serious and premeditated.”
Iran has refused to allow the French embassy staff to return and has accused them, through Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei, of violating the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations by engaging in activities supporting Iranian civil society.
The French Foreign Ministry has denied Iran’s accusations, labeling the claims as “completely false.” According to France, the embassy staff were running programs to support Iranian civil society, including students, artists, and scientists.
On July 20, Minister Barrot stated that the Iranian security services held the two French employees for several hours, subjected one to physical abuse, and warned that there would be consequences for this incident.
Amid rising tensions between France and Iran, the decision to expel diplomats signals a further deterioration in bilateral relations.
