France has accused Iranian security services of a grave act of intimidation against two French embassy employees detained and interrogated in Tehran on 19 July. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said one of the diplomats was assaulted during the hours-long detention, which he described as baseless and a violation of diplomatic immunity. Both staff members, who Barrot said were responsible for cultural and civil society programmes supporting Iranian artists and scientists, later returned to the embassy.
Barrot informed his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi that the incident would not go without consequences. Paris summoned the action as a serious breach of diplomatic norms demanding a response.
The episode arrives amid heightened friction between Paris and Tehran. Barrot stated last week that European Union sanctions on Iran would remain in place unless Tehran halts its nuclear programme, a position that has contributed to growing tensions between the two capitals.