Closure of French language centre in Tehran prompts row between France and Iran

Diplomatic discussions are underway between France and Iran after Iranian authorities shut a French-language centre affiliated with the French embassy in Tehran. The centre was closed following a judicial order from the Tehran prosecutor's office, with Iranian authorities accusing it of operating without a licence and engaging in activities against Iranian culture and national security.

The closure has prompted a strong reaction from France, with the country's Foreign Ministry spokesman Pascal Confavreux describing it as "unjustifiable and unacceptable". The French government plans to summon the Iranian ambassador in response. This latest development is part of a long-standing diplomatic tension between the two countries, with France having led efforts to reinstate UN sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme.

Relations between France and Iran have been strained for years, with Paris accusing Tehran of detaining foreigners as part of its "hostage diplomacy". Two French citizens were released and returned to France in April after three and a half years of detention. The incident follows a series of diplomatic expulsions, including the brief detention and expulsion of two French diplomats by Iranian officials two months ago, and the expulsion of two Iranian diplomats by France in response.

Brief written by urgent.news from RFI English, The National UAE, The National Business — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.