Tehran Shuts Down French Embassy-Linked Language Center

A French language center tied to the French embassy in Tehran has been shut and sealed by Iranian authorities acting on a court order, the city's prosecutor's office announced Sunday in remarks carried by the semi-official Tasnim news agency.

The Accusations

According to officials, the center had spent years presenting itself as a place to learn a foreign language while ignoring repeated instructions to obtain a license. They alleged its real work ran against Iranian culture and national security — spotting and recruiting contacts, building networks, and helping skilled Iranians leave the country.