Delayed Reporting on the Expulsion of Two Iranian Diplomats from the Netherlands; Intensification of Ambiguities

In diplomatic norms, the expulsion of a diplomat from another country is considered a harsh action and a biting message from the host government. The host government takes this action after the guest diplomat has been identified as an undesirable element. This means that the guest diplomat is deemed a disruptor of the order and security of the host country. This behavior by the host government is even more biting when it chooses to inform the public and does not want the matter to remain hidden between the two countries. Recently, the Dutch government announced the expulsion of two Iranian diplomats, which is considered a harsh action and a biting message for the Islamic Republic, especially when we consider the following elements of the news: First: The simultaneous expulsion of 'two' diplomats as undesirable elements. Second: The notification about this and the refusal to keep it hidden between the two countries. Third: The announcement of this news by the 'Security Organization' of the Netherlands (which is rare, if not unprecedented; usually, notifications are made by the foreign ministry of the host government). Fourth: The Dutch Security Organization deemed it appropriate to inform the public but refrained from mentioning the reasons. This notification without stating a reason, especially by a security organization, could indicate that the expelled individuals were elements of the security institutions of the Islamic Republic but with 'diplomatic cover.' Although it is a common practice in all countries to send their security elements under diplomatic cover to another country (and Iran is not an exception), the determination of the necessity to expel these individuals on one hand and the notification about it (not keeping it hidden) by the Dutch security organization on the other hand, without stating a reason, which is a message to all European security organizations, was likely intended for the audience in Tehran to be aware of their behavior. In other words, the Dutch Security Organization, by turning on the red light to other European security organizations, wanted to tell Tehran that their security warnings, in addition to being previously shared in the context of covert information and security cooperation with other countries' security organizations, are now publicly acknowledged by the European security organizations. This means that the relevant institution in Tehran should be aware of its behavior. Although the above statement is merely speculation by the author, the delayed reaction of the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the expulsion of the two Iranian diplomats (likely two security elements) supports this speculation. Bahram Qasemi stated to the media that 'previously' the Dutch ambassador in Tehran had been summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and warned that the actions of the Dutch government were illegal (!). This statement by the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson comes while the expulsion of a diplomat is precisely within the legal authority of the host country, as he also reminded in this statement that 'the Islamic Republic reserves its right to retaliate.' Intensification of ambiguities; Summoning four European ambassadors. In addition to summoning the Dutch ambassador to the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in another news, this ministry announced that following the arrest of an Iranian diplomat residing in Vienna, the ambassadors of Belgium, Austria, and Germany were also summoned to the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the past week, in an unusual news, the Belgian federal prosecutor officially announced that an Iranian diplomat suspected of assisting an Iranian-Belgian couple in a bombing attempt in France had been arrested in Germany. The elements of this news are also, in turn, questionable: First: The individual was not arrested in the country of his mission (Austria), but in Germany. Second: The individual was not expelled but 'arrested.' Third: This news was not reported by Austria but by the Belgian government (due to the connection with the Iranian-Belgian couple). Fourth: The mentioned news was reported not by the foreign ministry but by the 'Attorney General' of Belgium, which is an important judicial institution in any country, and the attributed accusation to the individual was assisting in a bombing, which is not a minor charge. Fifth: The Austrian government (the host government) announced that it would strip this diplomat of immunity.