France Summons Iranian Ambassador Following Closure of Tehran Language Centre Amid Escalating Tensions

France is set to summon the Iranian ambassador after Tehran ordered the closure of a French language school, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing diplomatic friction between the two nations.

“This latest attack on France’s cultural presence in Iran – following the assault on two French embassy staff members last July – is unjustifiable and unacceptable,” stated Foreign Ministry spokesman Pascal Confavreux.

This latest dispute arises just two months after Iranian authorities briefly detained and expelled two French diplomats. The French Foreign Ministry reported that one of these diplomats was physically assaulted, prompting France to retaliate by expelling two Iranian diplomats.

Relations between France and Iran have remained strained for years. Paris previously spearheaded diplomatic efforts to reinstate UN sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has frequently clashed with his French counterpart on X.

Furthermore, Paris has accused Tehran of engaging in hostage diplomacy through the detention of foreign nationals. Two French citizens were able to return to France in April following three and a half years of detention.

Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that authorities shut down the French language centre based on a judicial order from the Tehran prosecutor's office.

Tehran authorities claimed the centre operated under the guise of foreign-language teaching without the necessary licence, accusing it of conducting activities detrimental to Iranian culture and national security, which allegedly included building networks and facilitating the departure of skilled Iranians from the country.

Conversely, France has dismissed these accusations, pointing to a pattern of intimidation as Paris sought to increase its support for civil society in Iran following a crackdown on protests earlier this year.

Diplomats noted that Iran has also been agitated by a recent social media post from French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot commemorating the fourth anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini, an event that sparked nationwide protests.

In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed the post on Friday as “crocodile tears” and accused Paris of historical wrongdoings during the war of independence in Algeria. He also referenced a past strike in Iran, stating, “Your silence when the US massacred our school kids said it all.”

Diplomats at the UN headquarters in New York are currently working on resolutions for the Strait of Hormuz crisis. Both ministers are scheduled to meet on Tuesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to discuss Iran's nuclear programme and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

With US President Donald Trump slated to meet Gulf and other Arab officials, Iran, its proxies, and the broader US-Iran conflict will remain central topics in New York. French President Emmanuel Macron stated on Friday that a swift deal between Iran and the US to reopen the strait is unlikely, noting that a maritime mission initiative launched with the UK in April depends heavily on an agreement between Tehran and Washington.