Iran: France Must Immediately Release Our Detained Diplomat

Following the announcement by three French ministers regarding the freezing of assets belonging to Iranian intelligence services and two Iranian citizens in response to a "plot to attack the Mojahedin-e Khalq conference," the Iranian Foreign Ministry rejected these accusations and demanded the immediate release of its detained diplomat in France. According to Mehr News Agency, Bahram Qasemi, the spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, stated on Tuesday, October 1, that "once again, rejecting the allegations and claims made, we express the Islamic Republic of Iran's strong protest regarding the arrest of the Iranian diplomat and demand his immediate release." He condemned any form of "terrorist action" by the Islamic Republic and stated, "Given the existing documents and evidence, the role of adversaries, ill-wishers, and known destructive elements in designing this absurd display is clear." These remarks came after the French ministries of Interior, Foreign Affairs, and Economy issued a joint statement, referring to the "plot to attack" the Mojahedin-e Khalq conference on French soil, stating that "this action is extremely serious and cannot go unanswered." In this context, the French government announced that it had frozen assets belonging to Iranian intelligence services and two Iranian citizens in response to the "plot to attack the Mojahedin-e Khalq conference" in June. The conference of the "National Council of Resistance" held on July 1, which is said to have had a "plot to attack" thwarted, took place in the suburbs of Paris and, according to the Mojahedin-e Khalq organization, over 25,000 people attended. Last July, France arrested an Iranian diplomat and two others in connection with this plot and warned Tehran to expect "a strong response" in this regard. The diplomat, named Assadollah Assadi, worked at the Iranian embassy in Vienna. On Tuesday, Bahram Qasemi, while requesting the release of the detained diplomat, described the "attack on the Mojahedin-e Khalq conference" as a "scenario and conspiracy to undermine the good and expanding relations between Iran and Europe," which he claimed was in line with the objectives of the U.S. and Israel and orchestrated by "a terrorist and anti-people group residing in France." He called for "realism" from French officials regarding the Islamic Republic and warned those who are "seeking to undermine relations" between Iran and France and other European countries. Despite Iran's repeated denials of involvement in this conspiracy, a French diplomatic source told Reuters on Tuesday that "without a doubt," the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence, controlled by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, ordered this "failed attack" in June in Paris. The three French ministers also emphasized the Islamic Republic's involvement in the plot in their statement regarding the freezing of the assets of the Ministry of Intelligence and two Iranian citizens, stating that such a decision indicates that France is determined to "fight against terrorism, in any form, especially on its own soil."