Iran refuses to allow French diplomats into the country

Iran has banned two diplomats from the French embassy in Tehran from returning to the country, Reuters reported on August 17. They are said to be involved in a diplomatic row that broke out in July.

According to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei, the diplomats violated the Vienna Convention. The Vienna Convention sets out the rules and privileges of diplomatic missions. Baqaei said the employees were engaged in activities aimed at supporting Iranian civil society.

"The very fact that these individuals were engaged in supporting civil society is an admission that the Vienna Convention has been violated," Baqaei said at a weekly news conference.

He did not elaborate on the issue. Tehran has always been hostile to Western interference in its internal affairs. The situation has become especially tense since the US and Israel launched an attack on Iran in late February. This war is still ongoing.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told France Inter radio in July that the two officials were tasked with developing programs to support Iranian civil society, students and artists.

"France is one of the countries in the world that does the most for Iranian civil society. We have paid our dues," the minister said.

France summoned Iran's chargé d'affaires on July 21 after Iranian security forces detained and physically assaulted embassy staff in Tehran.

Earlier, Romania had expelled a Russian diplomat for violating its airspace. The incident was preceded by three drones that Bucharest blamed on Russia.