The Iranian government has summoned the French ambassador in Tehran, Pierre Cochard, to express its protest against "the violent response" to the student demonstrations recorded in recent weeks and for the "widespread violations of Human Rights" that it attributes to the French security forces during those protests.
According to the Iranian public broadcaster IRIB, the authorities in Tehran have reminded Cochard of the "obligations at the level of Human Rights" that pertain to France and have demanded that "the fundamental rights and freedoms" be respected in the context of the mobilizations.
In this regard, Iran has conveyed to Paris its "deep concern" over "the violent repression of peaceful gatherings" and has emphasized that "the use of this level of violence against peaceful protesters is unjustifiable," referring to the reports about the police's actions against those participating in the protests.
The spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Esmaeil Baqaei, has accused the French authorities of maintaining a "double standard" by criticizing the behavior of Iranian security forces during the recent anti-government protests in Iran, while justifying the police intervention against the student mobilizations in recent days on French territory.
Baqaei has recalled that "in January 2026, France urged Iran to guarantee the 'right to peacefully protest without fear of reprisals' and to act with moderation in its response to the demonstrations," and has pointed out that "despite the calls for revolt launched from abroad and the reports of armed attacks against centers and security forces in Iran, the French Foreign Minister went so far as to speak of a 'peaceful revolt'."
In contrast, he has highlighted that "today, in France, the demonstrations of high school students are described as 'urban violence'. The Interior Minister seems much less inclined to moderation and advocates for a swift intervention and the use of force to restore order. The government also refers to a 'political manipulation' and the role of far-left movements."
The spokesperson also emphasized that "it is evident that violence against the Police, the arson, and the damage to public property cannot be justified, and that the State has the duty to maintain and restore peace and public order," but he pointed out that there is "a contradiction" when "the same behaviors and criteria are interpreted one way when the protester is in Iran and another way when he is in France."
Baqaei has insisted on social media that "the problem is not the protest; the problem is the double standard" and added that "if Human Rights and the right to protest are universal principles, their definition should not change depending on the geographical location of the protester."
The position of Tehran is known after the French National Consultative Commission on Human Rights (CNCDH) expressed on Tuesday its "utmost concern" over the "disproportionate use of force" by the Police during the student protests taking place across the country, protests that have so far left around 5,000 detained, most of them minors.
France's Response: summons to the Iranian ambassador
In response, this Wednesday France summoned the Iranian ambassador to present a formal complaint about "the disinformation campaign carried out by the Iranian authorities regarding the secondary school student movement in France," according to the spokesperson for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pascal Confavreux.
During the meeting, the Iranian representative "was informed of the absolutely unacceptable nature of the false content disseminated online by the official accounts of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the lack of basis for the summoning, on October 6, of our ambassador in Tehran."
"These shameful provocations must cease," concluded the spokesperson in a statement released on social media.