French diplomat 'intimidated' in Iran by suspected security agents: source

• The incident, the second involving French diplomats in Tehran in less than four months, highlights the sharp deterioration in relations between France and Iran.

France's deputy chief of mission in Tehran was this month subjected to "intimidation by individuals claiming to belong to the Iranian security forces", a diplomatic source told AFP on Tuesday.

The incident, the second involving French diplomats in Tehran in less than four months, highlights the sharp deterioration in relations between France and Iran.

In response to the mistreatment of the diplomat in early October, Iran's ambassador to France was summoned by the French foreign ministry, the source said, without specifying the exact date of the summons.

"He was reminded in the strongest terms that we expect the Iranian authorities to take all necessary measures to guarantee the security of our personnel and premises," the source said.

French magazine Le Point, which first reported the incident, said the diplomat was forcibly stopped in the street by members of Iran's security forces, in breach of his diplomatic status. The encounter culminated in what the magazine described as a forceful interrogation.

The episode follows a July incident involving two French diplomats based in Tehran.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot accused the Iranian authorities at the time of having "detained them without reason for several hours", adding that one of them had been "physically manhandled".

Iran said the diplomats had been "briefly questioned" by security services after attending a "meeting with several individuals wanted by the authorities", and denounced French "interference" "under the pretext of engaging with civil society".

According to relatives, two Iranian graphic designers were arrested after meeting the diplomats for a working session on Villa Zadig, a cultural project run by the French embassy.

The Iranian authorities subsequently barred the two diplomats from carrying out their duties in the country. In retaliation, France expelled two diplomats from Iran's embassy in Paris.

In September, the Iranian authorities announced the closure of a French language centre linked to the French embassy, for allegedly conducting "illegal activities".

Paris has condemned the decision as "unacceptable" and said it would take "appropriate measures" in response.