(MENAFN) France has accused Iran of breaking an international treaty that defines consular relations between states, as relations between the two nations continue to deteriorate. Paris claims that Tehran is holding seven French double nationals hostage. While Iranian-French academic Fariba Adelkhah has been released, it is still unclear when she will be allowed to return to France.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman for Iran, Nasser Kanani, criticised France for interfering and taking "destructive" positions regarding events in Iran, adding that these positions and measures taken by France would not help in the negotiations for prisoners. French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Anne-Claire Legendre said Mr Kanani's remarks were extremely worrying, and openly highlighted the arbitrary character of the detention of French citizens.

In recent years, Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards have arrested dozens of dual nationals and foreigners, mostly on charges related to espionage and security. Rights groups have accused Iran of trying to extract concessions from other countries through such arrests. Iran, which does not recognise dual nationality, denies taking prisoners to gain diplomatic leverage.

France and Iran have had a rocky relationship over the past year, with the two countries clashing over issues such as the Iran nuclear deal and the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. The recent accusations by France against Iran could lead to further tensions between the two nations.

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