Foreign Minister Barrot: Two French diplomats detained in Iran have returned

Two French diplomats, who were detained in Iran, have been released and returned to France, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Thursday. Earlier on Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the detention of the French diplomats was due to their allegedly unacceptable behaviour and violation of diplomatic norms. Iran’s Foreign Ministry denied claims by the French side that its diplomats were treated improperly. “Yesterday, they returned to Paris. They received all the necessary support,” Minister Barrot told France Inter radio. The diplomats will continue to carry out their duties from Paris until their postings end. On Monday, Minister Barrot announced that two French diplomats in Iran had been detained for several hours and interrogated by Iranian security forces. Barrot also stated that France expects Iran to provide a thorough explanation regarding the circumstances surrounding the incident and to punish those responsible. Barrot described the detention of his two diplomats as a “serious act of intimidation”.