France summons Iranian Charge d'Affaires over "serious intimidation"

France has summoned Iran's Charge d'Affaires to express its strong condemnation of an incident involving the alleged intimidation of two French Embassy staff members in Tehran. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs labeled the event, which took place on July 19, as an "extremely serious act of intimidation" and a "flagrant violation" of international law and the Vienna Convention.

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At the behest of Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot, the Quai d'Orsay's Secretary-General summoned the Islamic Republic of Iran's charge d'affaires today following the extremely serious act of intimidation targeting two French Embassy staffers in Iran on July 19.

According to the Ministry's statement, the Iranian security services detained the two French diplomats without reason for several hours, interrogated them, and one of them was reportedly assaulted. The diplomats have since returned to the French Embassy and are being brought back to France. Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot conveyed France's stern disapproval of the "premeditated, deliberate attack" to the Iranian diplomat, warning of potential repercussions.

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He was informed that we condemned this premeditated, deliberate attack in the strongest possible terms. It was a flagrant violation of international law and the Vienna Conventions, signed by Iran, which guarantee the protection of diplomatic personnel and form the basis of relations between countries.

France is demanding that Iranian authorities thoroughly investigate the incident, bring those responsible to justice, and guarantee the security of French facilities and personnel in Iran, in line with their international obligations. The Ministry emphasized that the diplomats were engaged in supporting Iranian civil society, artists, and scientists, making the alleged aggression particularly shocking. France expects Iran to uphold diplomatic immunities and ensure the safety of foreign personnel.

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He was also reminded that this very serious, unacceptable incident will have repercussions, as the Minister told his Iranian counterpart yesterday.