Paris condemns 'extremely dangerous intimidation' of its diplomats in Tehran

Reykjavik – Agencies: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrow condemned a “highly dangerous act of intimidation by Iranian security agencies” targeting two French diplomats in Tehran, one of whom was subjected to “assault.” In a statement, the minister said, “On Sunday evening, two employees of the French embassy in Iran were the target of a highly dangerous act of intimidation by Iranian security agencies, in blatant violation of the diplomatic immunities they enjoy.” He explained that the diplomats “were detained without justification for several hours, interrogated, and one of them was assaulted,” before being allowed to return to the embassy. He added that they are now in a “safe” place, awaiting their return to France in the coming hours, and expressed “full solidarity with them in the ordeal they have endured.” Barrow considered that “this assault is shocking because these two employees are responsible for implementing our programs to support civil society, particularly Iranian artists and scientists.” He continued, “This highly dangerous and unacceptable violation of the safety of our staff will not go without consequences,” confirming that he had informed his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, of the incident.