Iran Closes French Embassy-Linked Language Centre, Prompting Sharp Rebuke From Paris

Iranian authorities announced the closure of a French language centre associated with the embassy in Tehran, accusing the facility of conducting illegal activities that violated diplomatic conventions. The move has drawn a sharp and immediate response from Paris, further straining diplomatic ties between the two countries.

According to the judiciary's Mizan news website, the action was carried out based on directives from the Tehran prosecutor's office. The report described the facility, referred to as the French Language Centre (CLF), as an illegal institution that had operated for years under the guise of providing language instruction.

The Iranian judiciary asserted that the centre had abused its status as a language training facility. Officials claimed that the institution engaged in activities aimed at identifying and building networks among elite figures within the country, while also facilitating their departure.

The French Foreign Ministry responded swiftly on Sunday, condemning the closure. In an official statement, the ministry stated that the action represented a new attack on the French cultural presence in Iran, describing the move as both unjustifiable and unacceptable.

Paris indicated that it would take appropriate measures to respond to the shutdown. Additionally, at the request of French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, the French Foreign Ministry announced that it would summon Iran's ambassador to formally address the matter.

Tensions between Tehran and Paris have experienced noticeable strain in recent months, marked by a series of diplomatic disputes. Just last month, France announced the expulsion of two Iranian diplomats. That decision was made in response to the brief arrest and travel ban imposed on two French envoys inside the Islamic Republic.

During that previous incident, authorities in Tehran accused the affected French diplomats of interfering in Iran's internal affairs. The latest closure of the embassy-linked language centre adds to the growing friction in bilateral relations, raising questions about the future of diplomatic and cultural exchanges between France and Iran as both governments navigate the escalating fallout.