France summons Iran's ambassador over closure of French language center in Tehran

Iranian judicial authorities closed the French embassy-affiliated language center in Tehran, prompting France to summon Iran's ambassador to Paris.

• Iranian authorities closed a French language center in Tehran on Sunday under a judicial order, the prosecutor's office said.
• The prosecutor's office alleged the center operated without a license, conducted activities against Iranian culture and national security, and helped skilled Iranians leave the country.
• France's Foreign Ministry said it is summoning the Iranian ambassador in Paris to officially protest the closure.
• The ministry said the closure was unjustified and that Paris is weighing further diplomatic measures.
• France denounced the raid by Iranian security forces on the center's buildings, calling it a new attack on its cultural institutions.
• The ministry warned the closure would harm thousands of Iranians who take French language courses in Iran each year.
• France said the summoning of Iran's ambassador was requested by Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot.
• France said the closure followed an assault on two French embassy staff in Tehran in July.
• France's foreign ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavre condemned the closure as an unjustified and unacceptable new attack on French cultural presence in Iran.
• The French and Iranian foreign ministers are scheduled to meet Tuesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, France said.