• Iran shut down a French language center, accusing it of illegal activities.
• France vowed to summon Iran's ambassador and take appropriate measures.
• Relations between Iran and France have deteriorated recently due to multiple incidents.

On September 20, Iranian authorities announced the closure of a French language center affiliated with the embassy, claiming it had undertaken "illegal activities." The Iranian judiciary accused the center, known as the French Language Center (CLF), of violating diplomatic conventions and conducting acts detrimental to Iranian culture and security, which reportedly included trying to establish networks among elite figures in Iran, facilitating their departure from the country, according to Le Monde.

In response, the French Foreign Ministry announced it would summon Iran’s ambassador and “take appropriate measures” against Tehran’s actions. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux condemned the closure as “unjustifiable and unacceptable,” particularly following an assault on French embassy personnel earlier this year. The Foreign Ministry highlighted that this incident exacerbated already strained relations due to ongoing tensions regarding Iran’s nuclear program and the detention of French nationals in Iran, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.

Frustrations between the two nations have escalated in recent months. France previously expressed concerns over repeated detentions and expelled two Iranian diplomats, while Iran accused French personnel of interference in its domestic affairs. The tension appears to be compounded by support from France for Iran's civil society amid ongoing protests and public dissent within Iran, illustrating a complex diplomatic landscape, as noted by Le Monde, Al Jazeera, and Reuters.