Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei accuses French President Emmanuel Macron of applying a double standard to protests in Iran and France, amid unrest and clashes in French cities.
TEHRAN, IRAN — WEB DESK, October 19, 2026: Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei has criticised French President Emmanuel Macron over his response to recent unrest in France, accusing him of applying different standards to protests in France and Iran.
In a post on social media platform X, Baqaei recalled Macron’s earlier comments on protests in Iran, when French officials had called for peaceful demonstrations and restraint by authorities. The Iranian spokesman contrasted that position with Macron’s recent condemnation of violence and attacks on public institutions in France.
Baqaei argued that the difference in the two responses demonstrated what he described as a double standard on the right to protest and the treatment of demonstrators.
Baqaei Questions Macron’s Position
The Iranian spokesman also referred to a message Macron had reportedly sent to US President Donald Trump before the military campaign against Iran, quoting the French leader as saying the two countries could “do great things on Iran.”
Baqaei accused Macron of aligning with actions against Iran that, in his view, contributed to wider regional instability. These statements represent the Iranian government’s position and have not been independently established as factual conclusions.
The criticism adds to tensions between Tehran and Paris over Iran-related policy, human rights and the handling of demonstrations.
Unrest in France Draws International Attention
Macron condemned violence and destruction during recent protests in France, while distinguishing peaceful demonstrators’ concerns from acts such as looting, arson and attacks on public buildings. He also called for measures to address shortcomings in security preparations and for dialogue with groups affected by the unrest.
The French government has faced criticism over its handling of the demonstrations, while officials have argued that attacks on police, businesses and public institutions cannot be treated as peaceful protest.
The dispute illustrates the competing positions governments take when discussing protest rights and public order in other countries compared with events at home.
Baqaei’s comments are the latest public criticism from Tehran of France’s position on Iran. The two governments’ differing accounts of protest movements and state responses remain contested, and the allegations made by either side should be assessed against independently verifiable evidence.
