Paris: France has announced its decision to expel two Iranian diplomats stationed in the country, escalating an ongoing diplomatic row between Paris and Tehran. This move is in direct response to Iran's decision to ban two French diplomats from returning to their posts at the French embassy in Tehran, as confirmed by the French Foreign Minister, Jean-No«l Barrot.
According to France24.com, the French foreign minister stated on Tuesday that the expulsion of the Iranian diplomats is a reaction to the "intolerable" actions taken against French diplomats in Iran. Last month, two French diplomats were arrested in Tehran under accusations of "interference," which has been a significant point of contention between the two nations.
The Iranian foreign ministry had previously notified France that the two French diplomats would not be permitted to return to Iran. Barrot detailed an incident on July 20, where one of the diplomats, serving as the cultural attach©, was detained and interrogated by Iranian authorities, an action described as a "flagrant violation of diplomatic immunity."
Barrot highlighted the incident as an "extremely serious act of intimidation" by Iran's security services, noting that one of the diplomats faced physical abuse. He emphasized that France's solidarity with the Iranian people, particularly in supporting their artists and researchers, led to the unwarranted targeting of its diplomats on July 19.
Iran's authorities, however, have denied allegations of mistreatment, asserting that the diplomats were briefly questioned due to their alleged "interference in Iran's internal affairs" under the guise of civil society engagements.
In a related development, Iran's intelligence ministry has accused the French diplomats of being involved in planning a scheme to influence and interfere in Iran's sovereignty. This accusation coincides with the arrest of two Iranian graphic designers, Aria Kasaei and Elly Naghilou, who were reportedly detained during a meeting with the French diplomats on July 19 concerning a cultural project.
Supporters of the detained designers, speaking to AFP, have called for legal representation and the protection of their fundamental rights. They urged the French government to investigate the circumstances of the arrests and ensure the safety and release of the designers, who were working on the visual identity for the cultural initiative Villa Zadig.
This diplomatic conflict unfolds amid heightened tensions within Iran, where authorities are reportedly intensifying their crackdown on civil society following protests earlier in the year and international pressures from the US-Israeli stance against the Islamic republic.