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Resumption of Full French, Iranian Diplomatic Relations Near

Eight months after France’s ambassador to Tehran and Iran’s envoy in Paris were recalled to their respective capitals, it appears the rift in the two nations’ relations have healed enough to allow new representatives to be dispatched to the vacant postings. The break came in the aftermath of French accusations that Iranian intelligence operatives were planning a major attack on Iranian opposition members in Paris. Also, an issue according to the pan-Arabic news platform Asharq Al-Awsat, is France’s insistence that Tehran suspend its ballistic missile development. This, despite French President Emmanuel Macron’s fervent support for the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and Western nations that was spearheaded by the United States which withdrew from the agreement under the Trump administration. Government sources in Paris identified former ambassador to South Korea and Pakistan Philippe Thiebaud, as the new French envoy; and Bahram Ghasemi, the spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry, as the Islamic Republic’s next representative in Paris. Meanwhile, hundreds of Iranians took to the streets of the American capital on Friday, calling for international help to bring about a regime change back home. Among those the rally supported was Maryam Rajavi, who heads the opposition group France is accusing the Iranians of targeting in Paris. The ex-patriate Iranians marching in Washington accused the Khamenei/Rouhani regime of torture, executions and terrorism.