EU condemns attack on French diplomats in Iran

The European Union has condemned the assault on two diplomats from the French embassy in Tehran, which was attributed to Iranian security forces on July 19.

In a statement, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said the incident was a blatant violation of the Vienna Conventions and threatened the conduct of diplomatic relations.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced on July 20 that the diplomats had been subjected the previous night to what he described as a "grave act of intimidation" by Iranian security services, adding that one of them was assaulted.

He said the diplomats were unjustifiably detained for several hours, interrogated, and that one was assaulted before both were allowed to return to the embassy. The diplomats returned to France last week.

In response, Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday that it had summoned the French ambassador in Tehran to protest what it described as "interference in Iran's internal affairs" by the diplomats.

Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the diplomats had "interfered in Iran's internal affairs under the pretext of engaging with civil society."