🔸Iran has prevented the return of two French embassy employees

Iran announced that two employees of the French embassy who played a role in a “diplomatic dispute” last month will not be allowed to return to the country.

Ismail Baghaei, a spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Monday, 26 Mordad (17 August) that these individuals violated the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations by carrying out activities in support of Iran’s civil society.

Tehran has long been highly sensitive to what it considers “Western interference in its internal affairs,” especially since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in late February.

Jean-Noël Barrot, France’s foreign minister, in response to the Islamic Republic’s action, said that the mission of the two employees was to develop support programs for Iranian civil society, students, and artists.

Tensions between the two countries increased after France, on July 21, summoned Iran’s chargé d’affaires to protest the detention and physical intimidation of its embassy staff in Tehran.