France and the European Union condemned Tehran’s alleged action against French diplomats, while Paris announced that two Iranian diplomats would be expelled in the coming days.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the decision was taken following the July 19 incident involving two French diplomats in Iran. Barrot said the French diplomats had been attacked in a “deliberate and unacceptable” manner, recalling that he had previously warned there would be consequences.
Iran’s statement
France maintains that Iran detained two French diplomats on July 19 over activities allegedly carried out under the guise of diplomatic mission and embassy duties.
Iran, for its part, said those activities were not legitimate under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Tehran maintained that it later detained the diplomats in connection with a foreign influence and interference plot targeting the country’s independence.