French Foreign Minister Announces Expulsion of Iranian Diplomats

Paris, August 18 (KUNA) -- French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced on Tuesday that two diplomats working at the Iranian embassy in the capital, Paris, will be expelled in the near future. In a statement, Minister Barrot said, “I have declared that two diplomats working at the Iranian embassy are persona non grata on French territory, in accordance with Article 9 of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.” He clarified that the decision follows the serious attack carried out by Iranian security forces against diplomats at the French embassy in Iran on July 19 of last year. He described the attack as a clear violation of international law and the Vienna Convention, of which Iran is a member, noting that the convention guarantees the security of diplomats and serves as the foundation for relations between states. He added that the relevant authorities had informed the Iranian embassy in Paris of the French decision earlier today. (End) M.B. / S.A.M.