France is to summon Iran’s ambassador after authorities in Tehran shut a French-language centre linked to the French embassy, prompting Paris to promise “appropriate measures”.
The French Foreign Ministry described the closure of the French Language Centre (CLF) as a fresh attack on France’s cultural presence in Iran.
“This new attack against France’s cultural presence in Iran, following the assault on two staff members of the French embassy last July, is unjustifiable and unacceptable,” ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux said in a statement.
The decision to summon the ambassador was requested by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, the ministry said.
Iran’s judiciary announced the centre’s closure on Sunday, accusing it of carrying out “illegal acts that violated diplomatic conventions”. The judiciary’s Mizan news website said the facility had operated for years under the guise of providing language instruction.
Iranian authorities alleged that the centre had “abused its status as a language training facility” by seeking to “identify and build networks among the country’s elite figures while facilitating their departure”. The claims were not accompanied by further details in the announcement.
Relations between Tehran and Paris have deteriorated in recent months. In August, Iran’s Intelligence Ministry said it had detained two French diplomats over alleged foreign interference during a national security investigation before handing them over to the French ambassador.
