France Summons Iran's Envoy Over Detention and Assault of Diplomats

France summoned Iran’s chargé d’affaires in Paris after Iranian security services detained two French Embassy employees in Tehran for several hours on July 19 and physically assaulted one of them. The French Foreign Ministry called the incident a premeditated and deliberate attack and a flagrant violation of international law and the Vienna conventions. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said both employees had returned safely to the embassy and would leave Iran. France demanded that Tehran investigate, punish those responsible, and secure French diplomatic premises and personnel.