Iran Calls in French, German, Italian and British Ambassadors Over Support for Demonstrations

Iran on Monday summoned diplomats in Tehran representing France, Germany, Italy and Britain to protest what it described as the countries' support for demonstrations that have rocked the Islamic Republic, the country's foreign ministry said.

The diplomats were shown videos of the damage caused by "rioters" and told their governments had to "withdraw official statements supporting the demonstrators," the ministry said in a statement quoted by state television, Al Arabiya reported from AFP (13/1).

In Paris, the French Foreign Ministry confirmed that "European ambassadors" had been summoned by Iran.

Meanwhile, President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola announced on Monday that the body had banned all Iranian diplomats and representatives from the parliament building due to the deadly crackdown on demonstrations in Iran.

"This cannot be business as usual. Because the brave Iranian people continue to fight for their rights and freedoms, today I have taken the decision to ban all diplomatic staff and other representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran from all offices of the European Parliament," Metsola uploaded on social media X.

"This council will not help legitimize this regime that has sustained itself through torture, repression, and murder," he added.