Key facts
- Iran announced two French embassy employees will be barred from returning.
- Tehran claims the diplomats violated the Vienna Convention.
- Iran alleges the employees engaged in activities supporting Iranian civil society.
- France previously summoned Iran's charge d'affaires over the incident.
Iran announced on Monday that two French embassy employees, previously involved in a diplomatic dispute, will be barred from returning to the country. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei stated that the individuals violated the Vienna Convention by engaging in activities supporting Iranian civil society.
Baqaei told a press conference that insisting the individuals were involved in civil society support was an admission of Vienna Convention violations, though he did not elaborate further. Tehran has historically been sensitive to perceived Western interference in its internal affairs.
Last month, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stated that the employees' mission was to develop programs supporting Iranian civil society, students, and artists. France summoned Iran's charge d'affaires on July 21 after accusing Iranian security forces of detaining and intimidating its embassy staff in Tehran.