Iran rejects French claims of intimidating embassy staff

Iran has rejected France’s claim that two employees of its embassy in Tehran had been intimidated, calling the accusation “baseless and incorrect,” according to the state-run IRNA news agency.

Mohammad Tanhayi, head of the Second Western Europe Department at Iran’s foreign ministry, said on Wednesday that the two French nationals attended a meeting on Sunday evening with several security suspects who were under investigation by Iranian authorities.

Citing reports from relevant agencies, he said the two were briefly questioned by security personnel after documents allegedly indicating “anti-security activities” were found at the location.

Tanhayi said the documents are still under review by the Iranian authorities.

He also rejected French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot’s accusation that the two embassy employees had been physically assaulted.

According to Tanhayi, security personnel transferred them to the diplomatic police headquarters immediately after confirming their affiliation with the French embassy.

He said they were handed over to the embassy after coordination with Iran’s foreign ministry and after speaking with the French ambassador.