France 'postpones' all non-essential travel to Iran for diplomats

A memo seen by Reuters cited a foiled plot to bomb a rally held by an exiled Iranian opposition group near Paris as a sign of Iran's more aggressive stance towards France.

"The behaviour of the Iranian authorities suggests a hardening of their position vis-a-vis our country, as well as some of our allies," Maurice Gourdault-Montagne, the ministry's secretary general wrote in the notice dated 20 August.

"Given the known security risks ... all departmental officers, whether from headquarters or (overseas) posts, are required to defer until further notice, except for urgent work, any travel plans in Iran," Gourdault-Montagne added.

Iran has denied involvement in the alleged plot to attack the National Council of Resistance of Iran in June.

Germany has detained an Iranian diplomat based in Austria, and Belgium, where the plot was uncovered, has sought the diplomat's extradition.

French diplomatic officials have privately said that if Iran's involvement was proven it would be difficult for France not to react strongly.

French President Emmanuel Macron has led efforts to persuade US President Donald Trump to stick with a landmark 2015 nuclear accord, arguing it is the best means to check Iran's nuclear activities.

Macron has reiterated France's commitment to maintaining the accord but Europe's leaders have been powerless to prevent US sanctions inflicting pain on Iran's economy.

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