France and Iran Reciprocally Expel Two Diplomats Each

Iran's Foreign Ministry said in an official statement on Tuesday, August 18, 2026 (27 Mordad 1405) that it has designated two French embassy staff in Tehran as personae non gratae over what it called activities in violation of international law, specifically the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, and has barred their entry into Iran. The ministry said no corrective action had been taken by the French government despite several weeks having passed since the conduct was disclosed.

Hours earlier, French Foreign Minister Jean Noel Barrot had announced Paris would expel two Iranian diplomats in the coming days. According to ILNA, Barrot said the two Iranian diplomats would leave France within the coming days.

The reciprocal moves come amid wider diplomatic tensions between Iran and European countries.