TEHRAN -- Iran’s judiciary announced on Sunday that it has sealed an unauthorized center affiliated with the French embassy in Tehran, following repeated violations of Iranian law and diplomatic norms.
The center, known as CLF, had operated under the cover of language teaching for years while refusing to obtain the operating license required under Iranian regulations, according to the judiciary’s media center, cited by the official IRNA news agency.
Legal authorities issued multiple warnings to the center, which it ignored, showing disrespect for the country’s laws. Based on a judicial order from the Tehran prosecutor’s office, the center was sealed.
According to the report, CLF misused its language-teaching cover to carry out projects against Iranian-Islamic culture and contrary to national security. The center was engaged in identifying and networking elites and facilitating their departure from the country.
The judiciary emphasized that respect for and implementation of host countries’ laws and regulations by foreign embassies is mandatory under international norms.
The closure follows Iran’s recent expulsion of French diplomats over illegal operations in Tehran.
In August, Iran declared two French embassy staff members persona non grata, for violating the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. France retaliated days later by announcing the expulsion of two Iranian diplomats from Paris.
Iranian intelligence officials at the time said France was running a “large-scale influence operation” inside Iran. 
France’s foreign ministry accused Iranian police of physically mistreating one of its diplomats during the July detention in Tehran. Iran denied the claim, saying the staff members were briefly questioned after attending a meeting with wanted individuals.