Iran summoned the French chargé d'affaires in Tehran on Sunday in protest of what it called "insulting remarks and unfounded allegations" made by the French foreign minister after an Iranian film won the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

Iranian director Jafar Panahi won the Palme d'Or for his film "It Was Just an Accident" on Saturday, a political drama inspired by his time in jail.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Panahi's win was "a gesture of resistance against the Iranian regime's oppression."

'Blatant interference' in Iran's internal affairs

"Following the insulting remarks and unfounded allegations by the French minister..., the charge d'affaires of that country in Tehran has been summoned to the ministry," state news agency IRNA reported.

According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Mohammad Tanhaei, head of the Second Europe Department, formally delivered Tehran’s objections during the meeting, calling the French remarks a "blatant interference" in Iran's internal affairs.

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Iran condemns political exploitation at Cannes Festival

Tanhaei condemned "the misuse by the French government" of the Cannes festival "to advance its political agenda against the Islamic Republic."

He stressed that such actions were both "irresponsible and provocative," undermining the credibility of France's human rights claims.

The Iranian diplomat also pointed to France’s continued support for the Israeli occupation regime.

Tanhaei stressed that France had "no moral authority at all" to comment on Iran while ignoring gross violations of human rights committed by "Israel", especially the denial of the Palestinian people's right to self-determination.

Demand for official clarification

Tanhaei demanded an official explanation from the French Foreign Ministry regarding the remarks made by the French foreign minister, reiterating Iran’s rejection of politically motivated narratives and selective human rights discourse.

The French chargé d’affaires responded by stating he would convey Iran’s concerns and the content of the protest meeting to the relevant authorities in Paris.

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