France to expel two Iranian diplomats after Iran bans French envoys

Paris announced that it will expel two Iranian diplomats from France in response to Tehran’s recent decision to ban two French diplomats posted at the Iranian embassy in Paris. The move follows the brief arrest of the French envoys in Tehran last month, where they were accused of “interference” in Iran’s internal affairs—a charge the French government has described as baseless.

French Foreign Minister Jean‑Noël Barrot condemned Iran’s treatment of the French diplomats, calling it “intolerable,” and said the expulsion is a necessary step to protect France’s diplomatic personnel and uphold international norms. The action signals a sharp escalation in diplomatic tensions between the two countries amid ongoing disputes over consular conduct and the broader geopolitical rivalry in the region.