France says it will expel two Iranian diplomats in response to Iran’s decision to bar two French diplomats from returning to the country.
French Foreign Minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, announced the move on Tuesday, describing Iran’s treatment of the French diplomats as “intolerable”.
The French diplomats were briefly detained and questioned in Tehran last month over allegations of interfering in Iran’s internal affairs.
Barrot said the incident violated diplomatic immunity and described it as a serious act of intimidation. He disclosed one of the French diplomats was physically abused during the incident.
Iran has denied mistreating the diplomats, saying they were only briefly questioned over alleged interference in the country’s internal affairs.
The latest diplomatic dispute comes as tensions between France and Iran remain strained over Tehran’s treatment of foreign diplomats and its broader relations with Western governments.
