Iran shuts down French Language Centre in Tehran, Paris vows retaliation
On Sunday, 20 September, Iranian authorities shut down the Centre de langue française (CLF) in Tehran due to a court directive. The prosecutor of Tehran alleged that the centre was operating illegally and engaging in activities detrimental to Iranian culture and national security, such as identifying individuals and aiding the exit of skilled Iranians. France's Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs criticized the closure as "unjustifiable and unacceptable," indicating that it would take unspecified actions, including summoning the Iranian ambassador. Founded in 2004, the CLF resumed its classes in July 2013 and obtained final approval in October 2014. This closure follows the Institut français de recherche en Iran's shutdown on 5 January 2023, amidst rising tensions after France expelled two Iranian embassy agents on 18 August.
Key facts
- Iranian security forces entered the Centre de langue française (CLF) in Tehran on Sunday 20 September and closed it under a judiciary order.
- Tehran's prosecutor said the centre lacked necessary authorisations and accused it of activities against Iranian culture and national security, without public evidence.
- France's foreign ministry condemned the closure as "unjustifiable and unacceptable" and said Iran's ambassador would be summoned at Jean-Noël Barrot's request.
- The CLF was created in 2004, suspended activities in December 2011, resumed in July 2013 and received definitive authorisation in October 2014.
- The centre serves several thousand Iranians yearly, offers DELF and TCF exams, teacher training, a media library with about 21,000 titles in 2015, and a Campus France space.
- The Institut français de recherche en Iran (IFRI) was closed on 5 January 2023 after Charlie Hebdo published caricatures of Ali Khamenei.
- Paris announced on 18 August the expulsion of two Iranian embassy agents over a 19 July incident involving French diplomatic staff in Tehran.
- The French and Iranian foreign ministers were due to meet on Tuesday 22 September at the UN General Assembly in New York.
Entities
Artists
- Jean-Noël Barrot
- Abbas Araghchi
- Ali Khamenei
- Mahsa Amini
Institutions
- Centre de langue française
- Institut français de Téhéran
- Institut français de recherche en Iran
- Charlie Hebdo
- Ministère français des Affaires étrangères
- Quai d'Orsay
- Sénat français
- Campus France
- Reuters
- Tasnim
- Mizan
- Nations unies
- Le Journal des Arts
Locations
- Tehran
- Iran
- Paris
- France
- New York
- United States