France warns its diplomats of traveling to Iran
An official French recommendation warning
diplomats of traveling to Iran has stirred controversy and tension, according to
a leaked memo from the French Foreign Ministry.
The move comes while President Emmanuel
Macron is seeking to assist Iran in its nuclear dispute with the West after the
withdrawal of the United States.
The memo, which was obtained by Reuters, was
signed by Maurice Gourdault-Montagne, the Foreign Ministry’s Secretary General.
The document requested diplomats and foreign ministry officials to postpone travel
to Iran.
Iran has decried the French memo. However,
France said the memo applies only to all non-essential travel and not the
resident diplomats working in Tehran.
"The restriction on the French diplomats’ travel (to Iran) is not
correct," Iran's foreign ministry said in a statement.
"The relations between Iran and Europe,
especially Iran and France have some enemies, and we should be vigilant against
their actions," said Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi.
