Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot on Tuesday that the two French diplomats were detained by Iranian authorities on Sunday because they failed to comply with the Islamic Republic's laws.
According to the Iranian Foreign Minister's Telegram channel, both diplomats acted in an unconventional and inconsistent manner compared with how foreign officials should act.
He also demanded that the French embassy prevent such actions from being repeated and that the French government take appropriate measures.
Earlier on Tuesday, the French foreign ministry summoned the Iranian charge d'affaires. "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.
Two employees detained, harassed
According to French authorities, two employees of France’s embassy in Tehran were aggressively harassed and detained by Iranian security forces on Sunday.
Barrot confirmed the incident, saying that both staff members were detained and interrogated for several hours without reason, with one being physically assaulted in the process.
According to Barrot, the employees were eventually allowed to return to the French embassy and are safe, but will be returning to France in the coming hours.
“I informed the Iranian Foreign Minister that this extremely serious and unacceptable violation of the integrity of our agents cannot go without consequences,” Barrot stated.
He decried the incident as “shocking” and a “flagrant violation” of diplomatic immunities and privileges afforded to embassy staff.
The Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.