France to summon Iran's envoy over Tehran language centre closure

Tehran’s foreign ministry announced on Thursday that it has lodged a formal complaint against a French language centre operating in the capital, accusing the institution of carrying out “illegal acts that violated diplomatic conventions.” The accusation was made public in a statement that cited specific breaches of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, alleging that the centre had engaged in activities deemed inconsistent with the protected status of diplomatic premises and personnel.

Iran’s officials said the centre, which is linked to France’s cultural outreach network, allegedly conducted unauthorized gatherings and disseminated material that interfered with Iran’s internal affairs, actions they described as contraventions of international diplomatic norms. The French embassy in Tehran has been summoned for clarification, and French cultural authorities have expressed surprise at the allegations, indicating they will review the claims and cooperate with Iranian authorities to resolve the dispute. The incident underscores ongoing sensitivities surrounding foreign cultural institutions operating within Iran and may affect bilateral cultural cooperation pending further diplomatic dialogue.