France expels 2 Iranian diplomats amid escalating dispute

Key facts

• France is expelling two Iranian diplomats.
• The expulsion follows Iran's refusal to allow two French embassy employees to return.
• France alleges Iranian security services detained and questioned the French diplomats in July, violating diplomatic immunity.
• Iran denies mistreatment, claiming the French diplomats interfered in internal affairs.
• Two Iranian graphic artists were arrested on July 19 during a meeting with the French diplomats.
• France condemned violence in the West Bank and justified its sanctions against Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

France announced it will expel two Iranian diplomats in response to Iran's refusal to allow two French embassy employees to return, escalating a diplomatic dispute. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated the expulsion was due to the "intolerable" treatment of French diplomats, who were detained and questioned in Tehran on July 19, which France alleges was a violation of diplomatic immunity. Iran denies mistreatment, claiming the diplomats interfered in internal affairs and were planning to undermine Iran's independence. The arrests of two Iranian graphic artists, Aria Kasaei and Elly Naghilou, on the same day during a meeting with the French diplomats to discuss a cultural project have added complexity to the situation. Separately, Barrot condemned violence in the West Bank by Israeli settlers against Palestinians, stating this justified France's sanctions against Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, whose comments he deemed unacceptable. France, along with Britain, Canada, and Norway, had previously announced coordinated sanctions against Israeli networks involved in violence in the West Bank, a move rejected by Israel's foreign ministry.