Diplomatic row erupts after Dutch envoy’s baggage confiscated in Iran

The Netherlands has summoned the Iranian ambassador following the confiscation of diplomatic baggage belonging to a Dutch envoy at Tehran’s airport, Iran International reported.

The incident occurred on Tuesday, February 24, when Dutch authorities formally protested the seizure of a diplomat’s luggage.

In an official statement, the Dutch Foreign Ministry said that on January 28, 2026, Iranian authorities triggered a diplomatic dispute by compelling a Dutch diplomat to hand over his diplomatic baggage at Imam Khomeini International Airport. “This is unacceptable,” the ministry said.

The ministry added that it had repeatedly called on Tehran to immediately return the confiscated items, but did not disclose further details about the contents of the baggage.

According to the statement, the Iranian ambassador was summoned after Iranian authorities published a video of the incident online.

Earlier reports indicated that the diplomat’s suitcase had been seized at the airport after he refused to allow it to undergo an X-ray inspection.

By Tamilla Hasanova