America News Agency

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei argued that France's stance toward protests in Iran differs from its approach to demonstrations in France.

Baqaei said France had called on Iran in January 2026 to guarantee the right to peaceful demonstration and to exercise restraint in responding to protests. He said that despite reports of armed attacks on security centers and forces in Iran, as well as calls for protests from abroad, the French foreign minister at the time described the events as a "peaceful uprising."

Baqaei said demonstrations by high school students in France were instead described as "urban violence," while the French interior minister called for rapid intervention and the use of force to restore order. Baqaei added that the French government had also referred to "political manipulation" and the role of far-left movements in the events.

Baqaei said violence against police, arson and damage to public property cannot be justified, adding that the state has a responsibility to protect and restore public order.

Baqaei said his criticism was not directed at protests themselves, arguing that if human rights and the right to demonstrate are universal principles, those principles should not change depending on the country in which the protester is located.