France has evacuated non-essential diplomatic staff from its embassy in Tehran amid the ongoing protests shaking Iran, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
The sources said the personnel left Iranian territory in two groups on Sunday and Monday, without disclosing their exact number. Under normal operating conditions, the French embassy in Tehran employs around 30 French expatriate staff, in addition to several dozen local employees.
France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs said the embassy’s staffing structure had been adjusted to enable it to continue fulfilling its duties in the current local context, stressing that the protection of staff and French citizens remains a top priority.
The ministry confirmed that the French embassy in Tehran remains open and operational. The ambassador is still in place alongside a reduced team, and consular services continue to be provided to French nationals in Iran.
Iran has been gripped by widespread protests since late last month. Demonstrations began on December 28 with a strike by merchants in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar, triggered by the sharp depreciation of the national currency and declining purchasing power. The unrest later expanded into broader protests featuring political slogans.
The movement has since developed into the largest wave of protests in Iran since demonstrations in September 2022, which erupted following the death of Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini after her arrest for allegedly violating Iran’s strict dress code for women.
In Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron condemned what he described as state violence against protesters in Iran, expressing France’s support for defenders of fundamental freedoms.
International reactions have continued to mount. The United Kingdom criticised the severe repression of demonstrators and urged Iranian authorities to immediately halt violence, following diplomatic contacts between London and Tehran. The European Union has also announced its intention to impose new sanctions on Iran over the use of force against protesters.
Iranian authorities have responded to the protests by calling for counter-demonstrations. In recent days, thousands gathered in a central square in Tehran in support of the authorities and in mourning for members of the security forces killed during the unrest, according to footage broadcast by state television.
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