France will expel two Iranian diplomats in the coming days in retaliation for the intimidation of its diplomats in Tehran. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced the move on Tuesday, stating that the decision is a consequence of the treatment of French personnel.
The action follows an incident in July involving two staff members of the French embassy in Tehran who were briefly detained. Barrot described the treatment of the diplomats, who were accused of interference in Iran's internal affairs, as intolerable.
Iran has responded by stating that the two French embassy employees involved in the diplomatic dispute last month will not be allowed to return to the country. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the two individuals had violated the Vienna Convention.