Paris Slams Iran Foreign Ministry’s Summoning of Its Ambassador to Tehran

People hold up signs during a rally in support of the demonstrations in Iran at the Place de la République in Paris in October 2022. (AFP)
People hold up signs during a rally in support of the demonstrations in Iran at the Place de la République in Paris in October 2022. (AFP)
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Paris Slams Iran Foreign Ministry’s Summoning of Its Ambassador to Tehran

People hold up signs during a rally in support of the demonstrations in Iran at the Place de la République in Paris in October 2022. (AFP)
People hold up signs during a rally in support of the demonstrations in Iran at the Place de la République in Paris in October 2022. (AFP)

France slammed on Thursday Iran’s summoning of the French ambassador to Tehran, Nicolas Roche, to its foreign ministry.

“The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs deplores the Iranian authorities’ summoning of France’s ambassador to Tehran on Nov. 30, in response to the National Assembly’s adoption of a resolution on Nov.28 expressing its support for freedom in Iran,” the statement read.

“Once again, France condemns the current crackdown and the multiple attacks on basic freedoms in Iran in the strongest possible terms.”

It reiterated that the protestors’ desire for greater freedom and the respect of their rights are legitimate and must be heard.

Iran's Foreign Ministry summoned Roche on Wednesday following a unanimous vote by lawmakers in Paris earlier this week condemning infringement of liberties and women's rights, state media said.

The ambassador heard Iran’s “strong protest against the baseless accusations” and “unacceptable interventions” in Iran’s internal affairs, the official IRNA news agency reported.

Legislators in France’s National Assembly unanimously approved a nonbinding resolution supporting the protesters.

The measure strongly condemns what French lawmakers call “the brutal and generalized repression by the security forces ... toward non-violent demonstrators, which constitutes a blatant and unacceptable violation of the right to demonstrate and freedom of expression.”

It also denounces laws and rules restricting the rights of women and minorities in Iran. It calls for the release of seven French citizens detained in Iran, too.

During the debate on the resolution in the French parliament on Monday, Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna condemned “the Iranian regime's massive use of arbitrary detention, censorship, and violence.”

She said Iran was responding with “repression” to the “legitimate aspirations of Iranian women and men.”

On the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Indonesia in November, French President Emmanuel Macron denounced Tehran's “increasing aggressiveness” towards France through “unacceptable” hostage-taking and called on Tehran to return to calm and the spirit of cooperation.



Iran’s President Insists Tehran Does Not Seek a Nuclear Bomb and Dangles US Business Opportunities 

02 February 2025, Iran, Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian visits an exhibition that showcases the defense ministry's latest advancements in defense and space in Tehran. (Iranian Presidency/dpa)
02 February 2025, Iran, Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian visits an exhibition that showcases the defense ministry's latest advancements in defense and space in Tehran. (Iranian Presidency/dpa)
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Iran’s President Insists Tehran Does Not Seek a Nuclear Bomb and Dangles US Business Opportunities 

02 February 2025, Iran, Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian visits an exhibition that showcases the defense ministry's latest advancements in defense and space in Tehran. (Iranian Presidency/dpa)
02 February 2025, Iran, Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian visits an exhibition that showcases the defense ministry's latest advancements in defense and space in Tehran. (Iranian Presidency/dpa)

Iran's president again pledged Wednesday that his nation is "not after a nuclear bomb" ahead of talks between Tehran and the United States, going as far as dangling the prospect of direct American investment in his country if the countries can reach a deal.

The comments by reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian represent a departure from Iran's stance after its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, in which Tehran sought to buy American airplanes but in effect barred US companies from coming into the country.

"His excellency has no opposition to investment by American investors in Iran," Pezeshkian said in a speech in Tehran, referring to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. "American investors: Come and invest."

Such a business proposal could draw the interest of US President Donald Trump, who withdrew America from Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers in his first term and now seeks a new agreement with the country.

Pezeshkian, who campaigned on a platform of outreach to the West during his election last year, also added that Saturday's talks in Oman between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff would be conducted "indirectly." Trump has said the talks would be direct negotiations — something Tehran hasn't ruled out after the first round of discussions.

"We are not after a nuclear bomb," Pezeshkian added. "You (in the West) have verified it 100 times. Do it 1,000 times again."