The Iranian Intelligence Ministry publicly condemned two French diplomats for participating in a clandestine meeting with suspects accused of foreign infiltration in Tehran. The ministry said these actions constituted illegal interference in Iran’s internal matters and violated both domestic law and diplomatic obligations.
According to Iran, the diplomats’ conduct during the meeting in July involved “extensive records of violations,” prompting a warning that any recurrence would prompt appropriate responses. This announcement follows a French complaint about the diplomats’ treatment during their brief detention in Tehran.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot reported that the two diplomats were detained without cause and one suffered physical abuse before returning safely to the embassy. Barrot highlighted that the diplomats were responsible for managing French programs supporting Iranian civil society, including artists and scientists, making the incident particularly alarming.
In response, Barrot conveyed his strong protest to Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, warning that such serious and unacceptable incidents would have consequences. Araghchi, however, criticized the diplomats’ actions as “unconventional” and contrary to diplomatic standards.