Iran denies mistreatment of French diplomats in Tehran

PARIS, France — TEHRAN — An Iranian Foreign Ministry official said security personnel did not mistreat two French diplomats in Tehran, according to Reuters. The official said embassy staff had been meeting individuals covered by a security investigation and were referred to the Diplomatic Police unit after security forces noticed the contact. The ministry official, Mohammad Tanhaii, said no verbal or physical pressure was applied during the process. France has alleged that the two diplomats had their phones confiscated, were prevented from contacting the embassy, and that the Cultural Attaché was beaten. Paris described the incident as contrary to diplomatic practice and summoned Iran's chargé d'affaires to the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday. The French Foreign Ministry has called on Tehran to clarify the incident, punish those responsible and guarantee the security of the diplomatic mission. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot raised the matter with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in recent days and said the actions would not go unanswered. Araghchi wrote on Telegram that the diplomats' conduct had been "unusual and unprofessional."