France expels two Iranian diplomats in diplomatic tit-for-tat

France has decided to expel two Iranian diplomats in retaliation for the expulsion of two French diplomats from Iran, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Centre-France group, Barrot said the decision was taken on August 18, according to French media.

The move follows an incident in July, when two diplomats from the French embassy in Tehran were assaulted and held incommunicado in the Iranian capital for several hours without explanation.

The two French diplomats returned to France on July 23. On August 17, they were informed that Iran had declared them persona non grata and banned them from entering the country.

By Aghakazim Guliyev