France Summons Iranian Ambassador After Tehran Protests French Crackdown

France summoned Iran's ambassador on Wednesday in a tit-for-tat move, following Tehran's summoning of the French ambassador to protest the violence by French security forces against protesters. The protests erupted after a heavy-handed crackdown on student demonstrations in France.

According to reports, at least 5,000 people have been arrested during the protests, while others have sustained serious injuries, including eye injuries, broken teeth and head trauma. The French Foreign Ministry spokesman said the summoning of France's ambassador in Tehran was baseless and described it as provocative, calling for an end to such actions.

The Iranian side, however, said the French government reserved the right to support unrest and disturbances in other countries. It also said France had repeatedly supported rioters and terrorists during unrest in Iran and had effectively turned into a base for them.

The diplomatic exchange marks a further deterioration in relations between Paris and Tehran, which have been strained over a range of issues. France has previously criticized Iran's human rights record, while Iran has accused France of harboring opposition groups.

According to Mehr News, the tit-for-tat summoning of ambassadors underscores the growing tensions between the two countries.