Iran says summoned French envoy over ‘interference’ in internal affairs

Iran summoned the French ambassador to Tehran on Monday to protest what it described as the interference of two French diplomats in the country's internal affairs. The Iranian foreign ministry stated that the diplomats were engaging with civil society under misleading pretenses, actions that are "in no way justified under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations."

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Yesterday, the French ambassador in Tehran was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where it was stressed that the French government must cease such actions and such interference in Iran’s internal affairs under misleading labels.

Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei emphasized during a weekly press briefing that the French government must cease such actions. He asserted that the diplomats' conduct was unacceptable and violated international diplomatic norms.

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interfered in Iran’s internal affairs under the pretext of engaging with civil society

This diplomatic summons comes in the wake of accusations from France. On July 20, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot reported that two French diplomats in Iran had been detained, interrogated, and subjected to "an extremely serious act of intimidation" by Iranian security services. Barrot stated that one diplomat suffered physical abuse before both were allowed to return to the embassy.

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in no way justified under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations

Iran's summoning of the ambassador signals a significant diplomatic escalation between the two nations, with each country leveling serious accusations against the other regarding the conduct of their respective diplomats.

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an extremely serious act of intimidation