Iran Summons French Envoy Over Alleged Diplomatic Interference
TEHRAN- Iran said on Monday it had summoned the French ambassador to Tehran to protest what it described as interference in its internal affairs by two French diplomats who were briefly detained earlier this month, further straining relations between the two countries.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the ambassador was called to the ministry on Sunday, where Iranian officials conveyed their objections to the diplomats’ conduct and urged France to refrain from what Tehran characterised as interference carried out under the guise of engagement with civil society.
According to Baqaei, the two French diplomats had interfered in Iran’s domestic affairs while claiming to be conducting civil society outreach. He said their actions could not be justified under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
The latest diplomatic dispute follows an incident reported by France on July 20. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said two French diplomats had been stopped by Iranian security officials the previous day and subjected to what he described as an “extremely serious act of intimidation.”
Barrot said both diplomats were detained for several hours without justification and questioned by Iranian authorities. He also alleged that one of the diplomats was physically assaulted before both were allowed to return to the French embassy in Tehran.
Iran’s latest move signals a further deterioration in diplomatic relations with France, with both governments publicly accusing the other of violating accepted diplomatic norms following the incident.
The exchange comes amid broader tensions between Iran and several European countries over diplomatic engagement and regional security issues, although neither side indicated on Monday that formal diplomatic relations would be downgraded.
