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

Iran’s economy is facing high inflation and other challenges, partly due to U.S. sanctions, U.S. ‍Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Thursday (January 8, 2026), underscoring Washington’s concerns about Tehran cracking down violently on anti-regime protests.

“The Iranian economy ‌is on the ropes,” Mr. Bessent told the Economic Club of Minnesota, underscoring President Donald Trump’s warning to Tehran to avoid harming protesters.

“It’s a very precarious moment. He does not want them to harm more of the protesters. This is a tense moment,” the U.S. Treasury secretary said, referring to Mr. Trump’s threat to hit Tehran if it began killing protesters.

– Reuters