Iran summons French ambassador over handling of French school protests

Mixed · 2Iran summoned the French ambassador in Tehran, Pierre Cochard, to its Foreign Ministry on Tuesday 6 October over France's handling of student protests, according to Iranian state media. 1 2 Mixed · 2Iranian state broadcaster IRIB said the summons followed France's "violent handling of student protests" and "widespread human rights violations". 1 2 Centre · 1Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei accused France of double standards, contrasting its January calls for restraint toward protesters in Iran with its response to the high school protests at home. He wrote on X that "the problem is not dissent; the problem is double standards". 1

Centre · 1The French student-led movement began in late September over staff shortages, overcrowded classrooms and inadequate school facilities, and blockades and demonstrations have spread to schools in several cities. 1 Mixed · 2Anadolu said authorities describe the largely peaceful movement as having seen violent incidents, including fires, property damage and attacks on staff and police; AFP said French police have clashed with demonstrators for days. 1 2 Right · 1AFP reported that relations between France and Iran have been strained for months, with the two countries expelling each other's diplomats in August. 2

Centre · 1The summons came a day after Iran executed two protesters, according to its judiciary, over their alleged role in the killing of police officers during the anti-government protests that began on 28 December 2025. 1 Mixed · 2Iranian authorities reported more than 3,000 deaths in those protests and blamed "terrorist acts" orchestrated by the United States and Israel, while foreign-based NGOs say security forces fired on protesters; Anadolu noted that authorities' and rights groups' figures on deaths and arrests differed significantly. 2 1