The European Union on Tuesday condemned the «aggression» by Iranian security forces against two French diplomats in Tehran earlier this month, AFP reports.

«The EU unequivocally condemns the attack on two diplomats from the French embassy in Tehran, carried out by Iranian security forces on July 19,» said EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.

According to her, such actions constitute «a clear violation of the Vienna Conventions» and jeopardize the very foundation of diplomatic relations.

Earlier, France said that its diplomats had been subjected to «an extremely serious act of intimidation» by Iranian security forces. According to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, one of the embassy staff members was physically assaulted.

«Both diplomats were detained for several hours without explanation, questioned, and one of them was physically assaulted. After that, they were able to return to the embassy,» Barrot said in a statement dated July 20.

On Monday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned the French ambassador to express protest over the actions of the French diplomats.

A spokesperson for the Iranian foreign ministry said that the embassy staff had «interfered in Iran’s internal affairs under the pretext of engaging with civil society.»