France summons Iranian ambassador over alleged disinformation on student protests

France summoned Iran’s ambassador to Paris on Wednesday over what it described as a “disinformation campaign” by Iranian authorities concerning student protests in France, according to a Foreign Ministry statement, Anadolu reports.

The ambassador was told that content disseminated online by official Iranian Foreign Ministry accounts was “absolutely unacceptable ” and false, the statement said.

It said the ambassador was summoned at the request of Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot.

France also rejected as unfounded a summons issued Tuesday to its ambassador in Tehran, according to the statement.

“These disgraceful provocations must stop,” the ministry said, adding: “The summoning of our Ambassador in Tehran on 6 October was unfounded.”

On Tuesday, Iran summoned the French ambassador in Tehran over the French government’s handling of the protests, Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported.

The summons followed what IRIB described as France’s “violent handling of student protests” and “widespread human rights violations.”

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei also accused France of double standards, contrasting its calls for restraint toward protesters in Iran with its response to high school protests in France.

The student-led movement began in late September over complaints about staff shortages, overcrowded classrooms and inadequate school facilities.

Blockades and demonstrations have since spread to schools in several French cities.