Iranian state media reported on Sept. 20 that, citing national security and
under a judicial order from the Tehran prosecutor’s office, authorities seized a
French-language center affiliated with France’s embassy in Tehran. Iran said the
center had operated irregularly for years under the guise of language
instruction, repeatedly failed to obtain proper accreditation, and was accused
of activities harming Iranian culture and national security, including
identifying and building personnel networks and facilitating the departure of
Iranian technical personnel.