Iran closes French language centre in Tehran for ‘illegal acts’
· France 24Iranian authorities on Sunday announced the closure of a French language centre associated with the embassy, accusing it of having undertaken "illegal activities".
"Based on the Tehran prosecutor's office, the illegal centre affiliated with the French embassy in Tehran, which has operated for years under the guise of language instruction, was closed," the judiciary's Mizan news website said, referring to the French Language Centre (CLF).
The judiciary accused the centre of conducting "illegal acts that violated diplomatic conventions".
Read moreIran calls France's decision to expel two Iranian diplomats 'illegal'
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".
France to respond with appropriate measures
France on Sunday vowed to take appropriate measures in response to the closure of the language centre, said a French foreign ministry spokesman.
"This new attack against France’s cultural presence in Iran, following the assault on two staff members of the French embassy last July, is unjustifiable and unacceptable," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Pascal Confavreux in a statement.
Paris would "take appropriate measures to respond", it added.
The ministry also said it would summon Iran's ambassador at the request of French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot.
Relations between Tehran and Paris have been strained in recent months.
Last month, France announced the expulsion of two Iranian diplomats in response to the brief arrest and banning of two French envoys to the Islamic republic.
Tehran had accused the two French diplomats of "interference in Iran's internal affairs".
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and Reuters)