After France, Iran Also Introduced Its Ambassador in Paris

Three days after the announcement of the appointment of the French ambassador in Tehran, Bahram Qasemi, the spokesperson of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, was officially appointed as the ambassador of the Islamic Republic in Paris. Philippe Teybo is the new French ambassador in Tehran. The introduction of the ambassadors of the two countries had been suspended following accusations of the Islamic Republic's involvement in a bombing at a People's Mujahedin Organization meeting in France. On Friday, March 8, Iranian media reported that Bahram Qasemi was appointed as the new ambassador of the Islamic Republic in Paris. Before Mr. Qasemi's appointment, Abolqasem Delfi was the Iranian ambassador in France, whose interview in French and lack of proficiency in the language led to ridicule on a television program. Mr. Delfi was dismissed shortly after this incident. The French embassy in Tehran also announced on March 5 via a message on its official Twitter account the appointment of Philippe Teybo as the ambassador of France in Iran. He had previously served as the ambassador of France in North Korea and Pakistan. Francois Senemaud, the former French ambassador, left Tehran in July after completing his mission. The introduction of the new ambassador had also been suspended following the bombing at the People's Mujahedin Organization meeting in France. The Mujahedin meeting was held on June 30 in the suburbs of Paris, and following that, French officials announced the neutralization of a plot to attack this meeting. On October 2, France blocked assets belonging to Iranian intelligence services and two Iranian citizens in response to the 'attack plot' against this meeting and expelled an Iranian diplomat in early November. In recent months, tensions in relations between Tehran and some European countries have escalated due to what has been described as attempts by Iranian intelligence agents to carry out bombings in these countries and assassinate opponents of the Islamic Republic. Meanwhile, on Monday, March 4, Iran and the Netherlands recalled their ambassadors. In December, it was also announced that Albania expelled the Iranian ambassador and one Iranian diplomat on suspicion of illegal activities that threatened the country's security. The Danish Security Service reported on October 30 that a Norwegian citizen of Iranian descent was arrested in the country on suspicion of collaborating with Iranian intelligence and attempting to attack members of an opposition group to the Islamic Republic. The European Union agreed in January this year to impose sanctions against the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence due to what it called 'planning assassinations on European soil.'