Iran, France ministers discuss protests after European criticism

Iran’s foreign minister spoke by telephone with his French counterpart following European criticism of Iranian security forces’ violent crackdown on protesters.

During Tuesday evening’s phone call with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, the two men discussed recent “events,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a Telegram message on Wednesday.

Barrot on Tuesday strongly condemned the deadly repression of mass protests in Iran and summoned the Iranian ambassador to Paris.

Speaking before Parliament, he described the protests as a “call for freedom” and a “peaceful revolt” repressed in an inhumane manner.

Several other European countries have also summoned Iranian diplomats to protest the crackdown.

During the call, Araghchi defended the actions of Iranian security forces, saying protests that initially started peacefully had turned violent due to the involvement of “trained terrorist elements.” He also alleged foreign interference in Iran.