France to summon Iran envoy after Tehran closes embassy-linked language centre
Paris has condemned the closure as an attack on its cultural presence and promised unspecified measures in response.
France will summon Iran’s ambassador and take what it calls “appropriate measures” after Iranian authorities closed a French-language centre linked to the French embassy in Tehran.
The French Foreign Ministry described the closure of the French Language Centre as an “unjustifiable and unacceptable” attack on France’s cultural presence in Iran. Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot requested that Iran’s ambassador be summoned in Paris.
Iranian authorities accused the centre of conducting illegal acts that violated diplomatic conventions. Iran’s judiciary said it had operated under the guise of language instruction and allegedly sought to identify and build networks among elite figures while facilitating their departure.
The allegations have not been independently substantiated in the supplied material. France has not specified what further measures it may take.
The dispute follows reported tensions between the two countries, including France’s account of an alleged assault on two French embassy staff members in July. In August, Iran’s Intelligence Ministry said it had detained two French diplomats over alleged foreign interference before transferring them to the French ambassador.
