France’s Foreign Ministry has summoned the Iranian charge d’affaires in Paris after two French embassy staff members were detained, interrogated and physically intimidated by Iranian security services in Tehran on Sunday evening, in what Paris described as a flagrant violation of diplomatic immunity.
The French Foreign Ministry summoned the Iranian charge d’affaires on Tuesday, two days after confirming that the two staff members had been detained and physically intimidated by Iranian security services.
“France expects the Iranian authorities to shed light on this incident, punish the perpetrators, and ensure the security of its premises and personnel, in accordance with their international obligations,” the ministry said.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot described the incident as an “extremely serious act of intimidation” by Iranian security services, saying one of the two staff members had been mistreated and that the incident constituted a flagrant violation of their diplomatic immunity.
Both staff members later returned safely to the French embassy.
Barrot said he had informed Iran’s foreign minister that the violations “could not go without consequences.”
The two staff members were involved in French programmes supporting Iranian civil society, including artists and scientists.
Paris is also considering reducing staffing at its embassy in Tehran following the incident. Iranian authorities have not commented on the matter.
(The Whistler)