France to summon Iran envoy after Tehran closes French language centre

September 21, 2026 at 03:06 AM1 min

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France will summon Iran's ambassador and take "appropriate measures" after Iranian authorities closed a French-language centre linked to its embassy in Tehran. Iran accused the centre of conducting "illegal acts that violated diplomatic conventions." The French Foreign Ministry called the closure "unjustifiable and unacceptable."

Key Facts

Iran announced the closure of the French Language Centre (CLF) in Tehran on Sunday, accusing it of "illegal acts that violated diplomatic conventions."
France will summon Iran's ambassador in Paris at the request of Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot.
The Iranian judiciary's Mizan news website said the centre "abused its status as a language training facility" and sought to "identify and build networks among the country's elite figures."
In August, Iran's Intelligence Ministry detained two French diplomats over alleged foreign interference before handing them over to the French ambassador.

Closure of the Centre

Iran announced on Sunday the closure of the French Language Centre (CLF), which it accused of conducting "illegal acts that violated diplomatic conventions." The Iranian judiciary's Mizan news website said the centre, affiliated with the French embassy in Tehran, had operated for years under the guise of language instruction. It alleged the centre "abused its status as a language training facility" and sought to "identify and build networks among the country's elite figures while facilitating their departure."

French Response

The French Foreign Ministry said it would "take appropriate measures to respond" and would summon Iran's ambassador in Paris at the request of Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux called the closure "unjustifiable and unacceptable," citing a previous assault on two French embassy staff members last July. Relations between Tehran and Paris have been strained in recent months, with Iran's Intelligence Ministry detaining two French diplomats in August over alleged foreign interference.