Iran has sealed a French language centre affiliated with the French embassy in Tehran, prompting France to summon Iran’s ambassador and threatening to further strain already difficult ties between the two
countries.
The closure came days after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused France of shedding “crocodile tears” over the death of 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini, whose death in Iranian custody in September 2022 triggered nationwide protests.
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday that the French language centre was shut following a judicial order from the Tehran prosecutor’s office.
Iran cites security, licensing concerns
Iranian authorities said the centre had operated for years without a licence despite repeated warnings to obtain one.
The prosecutor’s office also accused the centre of using foreign-language teaching as a cover for activities against Iranian culture and national security.
According to Iranian authorities, the centre was involved in identifying and building networks and facilitating the departure of skilled Iranians from the country.
France has previously rejected such allegations. Paris has said there had been a pattern of intimidation in recent months as it sought to increase its support for and contacts with Iranian civil society following a crackdown on protests earlier this year.
France’s Foreign Ministry described the closure as a fresh attack on its 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,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux said.
‘Crocodile tears’: Araghchi hits back
The latest diplomatic confrontation followed a social media post by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot marking the fourth anniversary of Amini’s death.
Amini’s death in Iranian custody in September 2022 became a major point of criticism of Tehran’s treatment of dissent and women’s rights.
Araghchi responded to Barrot’s post on Saturday, dismissing the French minister’s remarks as “crocodile tears”. The Iranian foreign minister also accused France of slaughtering 1.5 million Algerians during Algeria’s war of independence. “Your silence when the US massacred our schoolkids said it all,” Araghchi said, referring to a strike in Iran that Tehran believes the US was responsible for.
The exchange has further sharpened rhetoric between Tehran and Paris, which are also at odds over Iran’s nuclear programme, the detention of French nationals and the treatment of diplomats.
Diplomatic tensions deepen
The latest dispute comes after a series of diplomatic confrontations between the two countries.
Relations between Iran and France had shown some improvement following the release of several French nationals detained in Iran. Paris had also distanced itself from the US war against Iran.
However, tensions worsened over the summer after two French diplomats were arrested and subsequently expelled. France responded by expelling Iranian diplomats. France said two French embassy staff members had been held for hours in July and that one of them was beaten. Iran denied the allegation.
Iranian officials have also been angered by France’s public criticism of Tehran and its engagement with Iranian civil society.
The two foreign ministers are due to meet on Tuesday on the sidelines of the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations, as the latest dispute adds another layer of tension to relations between Tehran and Paris.
