Education

France Summons Iran Envoy Over Language Center Closure

Is closing the French language school a cheap attack on culture and learning or is Iran simply enforcing its own licensing laws?

4 hours ago·Updated 1 hour ago

France Summons Iran Envoy Over Language Center Closure

Story

Above: Jean-Noël Barrot speaks during a Security Council meeting at the U.N. Headquarters, April 27. Image credit: Lev Radin/Pacific Press/Getty Images

The Spin

Narrative A

Shutting down a French language school is a cheap shot at culture and learning, and it fits a pattern of harassment that already saw French embassy staff grabbed and one of them beaten. Punishing teachers and students because Paris speaks up is unjustifiable and deserves a firm response. Summoning the ambassador is the least Paris should do after expelling two Iranian diplomats.

Le Monde France24.com

Mario Nawfal on Liz Webster

Narrative B

Any foreign-run institute must register and hold a license, and this one brushed off repeated warnings for years while hiding behind language instruction. The Vienna Convention does not hand an embassy a pass to ignore Iranian law or to scout out elites and help them leave the country. Enforcing a judicial order on an unlicensed operation is basic sovereignty.

The Times of India

Tehran Times on Liz Webster Tasnim News Agency