Iranian authorities have formally rejected claims made by France that two employees of the French embassy in Tehran were subjected to intimidation. According to the state-run IRNA news agency, Mohammad Tanhayi, head of the Second Western Europe Department at Iran’s foreign ministry, dismissed the accusation as both "baseless and incorrect."
Tanhayi explained that the two French nationals were present at a meeting on Sunday evening alongside several security suspects currently under investigation by Iranian authorities. He stated that, based on reports from relevant agencies, the individuals were briefly questioned by security personnel after documents allegedly linked to "anti-security activities" were discovered at the site. These documents remain under review by Iranian officials.
The Iranian official explicitly denied claims made by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot that the embassy employees had been physically assaulted. Tanhayi noted that once security personnel confirmed the individuals' affiliation with the French embassy, they were immediately transferred to the diplomatic police headquarters. They were subsequently handed over to the embassy following coordination with Iran’s foreign ministry and discussions with the French ambassador.
Tanhayi further accused the employees of violating both Iranian law and the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. He argued that France should be held accountable for conduct he described as incompatible with diplomatic norms rather than leveling accusations against Tehran. Additionally, he criticized Barrot’s assertion that the staff members were supporting "civil society," describing the statement as an admission of French interference in Iran’s internal affairs, which he claimed is inconsistent with standard diplomatic duties. He urged France to stop such "interventionist behaviour" and adhere to established international standards.
This development follows a telephone conversation between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Barrot, which took place after France summoned Iran’s charge d’affaires. During the call, Araghchi protested the "unconventional actions" of the French diplomats, while the French side characterized the detention and questioning as an "extremely serious" act of intimidation and called for a full investigation.
