France has vowed to take action against Iran after authorities in Tehran sealed a French language centre affiliated with the French embassy.
The French Foreign Ministry said on Sunday that Iran’s ambassador would be summoned and that France would take appropriate measures in response to the closure.
“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 in a statement.
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that the centre was closed following a judicial order from the Tehran prosecutor’s office.
Iranian authorities said the centre had operated for years under the cover of foreign-language teaching despite repeated warnings to obtain a licence.
They accused it of activities against Iranian culture and national security, including identifying and building networks and facilitating the departure of skilled Iranians from the country.
France has previously rejected the allegations, saying there had been a pattern of intimidation in recent months as Paris increased its support for, and contacts with, Iranian civil society following a crackdown on protests earlier this year.
Relations between France and Iran have been strained for years over Tehran’s nuclear programme and the detention of several French nationals.
Although ties had improved following the release of French detainees and France’s decision to distance itself from the US war against Iran, relations deteriorated again after two French diplomats were arrested and subsequently expelled during the summer. France reciprocated.
Diplomats said Iran had also been angered by a recent social media post by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot marking the fourth anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini, whose death triggered protests across Iran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi responded on Friday by calling the post “crocodile tears” and accusing France of slaughtering 1.5 million Algerians during the war of independence.
“Your silence when the U.S. massacred our schoolkids said it all,” he said, referring to a strike in Iran that Tehran believes the US was responsible for.
The closure of the language centre comes as tensions between Paris and Tehran remain high, with both sides exchanging accusations over diplomatic and security matters.
The two foreign ministers are due to meet on Tuesday on the sidelines of the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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