Tehran: The Iranian foreign ministry has strongly rejected claims made by the French Foreign Ministry regarding the closure of a language center affiliated with the French Embassy.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, an official statement issued by the Iranian Foreign Ministry clarified that law enforcement actions to halt the 'illegal activities' of the institute were executed following a judicial order. The foreign ministry emphasized that the closure followed repeated warnings over the years from Iranian authorities, which the French Embassy allegedly ignored. These warnings demanded the legal registration and procurement of necessary operating permits for the language center.

The statement further underscored that, under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, foreign embassies are obligated to establish educational and cultural institutes in compliance with the host country's laws and regulations. Tehran criticized the French Embassy's persistent attempts to bypass these legal requirements and its expectations of diplomatic immunity for activities not covered under such privileges.

In its statement, the Iranian foreign ministry urged Paris to adhere to international diplomatic conventions and respect domestic Iranian law, highlighting that such compliance is crucial for maintaining amicable diplomatic relations.