Hostage diplomacy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The case of Europeans detained in Iran
The so-called hostage diplomacy of the Islamic Republic of Iran refers to a political and diplomatic strategy in which Tehran uses the detention of Western nationals, dual citizens, or Iranian citizens residing in Europe, Australia, or the United States as leverage in diplomatic negotiations. This practice aims to exert pressure to secure political, economic, or diplomatic concessions as part of Tehran’s asymmetric response strategy. Hostage diplomacy remains a controversial yet effective tool from the perspective of the Islamic Republic of Iran, given its context of economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation.
European efforts to deter this practice, such as targeted sanctions against Iranian officials involved, have failed to achieve significant progress since the 2000s. This phenomenon highlights the tensions between Tehran’s claims of national sovereignty and international norms on human rights and diplomacy.
Hostage diplomacy is widely criticized by human rights organizations and Western governments. In the case of European hostages, this practice exacerbates tensions between Iran and the countries involved, complicating negotiations. From Europe’s perspective, the Islamic Republic will continue to be seen as an unreliable diplomatic actor as long as this practice persists.
This publication is only available in French : La diplomatie des otages de Téhéran. Le cas des Européens détenus en Iran
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Hostage diplomacy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The case of Europeans detained in Iran
Author(s)
Clément THERME
Associate Research Fellow, Turkey/Middle East Program, Ifri
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