Conflict & Security
EU condemns Iran over French diplomats in Tehran
The European Union condemned what it called an aggression by Iranian security forces against two French diplomats in Tehran after France said the officials were detained, interrogated and one was physically abused.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Tuesday that the bloc "unequivocally condemns the aggression" against the two diplomats from the French embassy in Tehran on July 19.
Kallas said the acts were a "blatant violation" of the Vienna Conventions and jeopardised diplomatic relations.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said in a July 20 statement that the two diplomats suffered "an extremely serious act of intimidation" by Iranian security services. He said both were detained for several hours without reason and interrogated, and that one was physically abused, before they returned to the embassy.
Iran's foreign ministry said Monday that it had summoned the French ambassador to protest the conduct of the diplomats. A ministry spokesman said the diplomats had "interfered in Iran's internal affairs under the pretext of engaging with civil society".
Update
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas condemned what she called aggression by Iranian security forces against two French diplomats in Tehran on July 19.
Kallas said the acts violated the Vienna Conventions and jeopardised diplomatic relations.
Iran's foreign ministry said it summoned the French ambassador to protest what it alleged was interference by the diplomats in Iran's internal affairs.
Source note: AFP news report published on 28 July 2026 at 13:41:47 UTC.
Update
France's foreign minister said both diplomats were detained for several hours without reason and interrogated.
He said one diplomat was physically abused before both returned to the embassy.
He said the diplomats were safe and expected to return to France within hours.
Barrot said he told Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that the incident could not go without consequences.
The report adds context about Barrot's recent comments on European sanctions and Iran's statement that it was fighting a full-scale war with the United States.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 July 2026 at 15:56:13 UTC.
Update
France's foreign minister said Islamic republic security services targeted the two diplomats.
Jean-Noel Barrot said the incident happened late Sunday.
Barrot said the diplomats were detained for several hours without reason and interrogated.
Barrot said one diplomat was physically abused.
Barrot said the diplomats were later able to return to the embassy.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 July 2026 at 15:33:37 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The supplied material does not provide independent verification of France's account of the diplomats' treatment or Iran's allegation about their conduct.
Source
AFP news report published on .