Iran declares two French diplomats persona non grata

Iran's Foreign Ministry has officially declared two French diplomats as persona non grata, according to a statement released by the ministry's public relations office. The decision was made due to the diplomats' "activities contrary to international law, particularly the 1961 Convention on Diplomatic Relations."

The ministry noted that several weeks had passed since the disclosure of their unlawful conduct, but no corrective action had been observed from the French government. The statement said, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recognizes these two officials as persona non grata and, accordingly, their entry into Iran will be prohibited."

The move follows a warning issued by Iran's Intelligence Ministry on August 15, which accused France of interfering in Iran's internal affairs. The intelligence ministry reported that the two French diplomats had been found at a secret meeting linked to a major case involving foreign infiltration and interference. The diplomats were said to have violated Iranian laws and their diplomatic obligations, with documents recovered from the site pointing to a broader project involving infiltration, covert contacts, and foreign interference.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry accused French officials of attempting to divert attention from the case and warned that Iran would take appropriate action if such activities were repeated. The statement emphasized that the decision was in line with international norms and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

According to Mehr News Agency (MNA), the development underscores growing tensions between Iran and France over alleged interference in Iran's internal affairs. The report by MNA added that the Iranian government remains vigilant against any foreign attempts to undermine its sovereignty.