Non-essential French embassy staff have left Iran, two sources with knowledge of the matter told AFP on Monday (January 12, 2026), as the Islamic Republic’s authorities cracked down on protests in the country.

The personnel left on Sunday (January 11) and Monday (January 12), the sources added, without saying how many people had departed.

“The embassy’s structure has been reconfigured to allow it to handle its duties in the local context,” the French Foreign Ministry told AFP, adding: “The protection of our personnel and our citizens is a priority.”

– AFP