Iran summoned the French ambassador in Tehran after the foreign minister of France, Jean-Noël Barrot, made controversial remarks about the Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi's recent win at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Panahi, recognized for his political drama "It Was Just an Accident," received the Palme d'Or award, an achievement that sparked diplomatic tensions when Barrot described it as "a gesture of resistance against the Iranian regime's oppression."
The comments from Barrot provoked a stern reaction from Iran's foreign ministry. Spokesperson Mohammad Tanhaei labeled the French minister's statements as "insulting remarks and unfounded allegations," referring to them as a blatant intrusion into Iran's domestic matters, as reported by state media outlets. Tanhaei emphasized that France lacks the moral standing to comment on Iranian affairs, referencing the country's perceived indifference toward the situation of Palestinians in Gaza.
During discussions with the French envoy, Tanhaei expressed the need for an official clarification from Paris regarding Barrot's remarks. The envoy agreed to communicate this message back to the French government.
Jafar Panahi, a prominent figure in Iranian cinema, has faced multiple imprisonments for his steadfast opposition to the Iranian government. He served seven months of a six-year sentence which ended in February 2023. Previously, he had faced a six-year sentence in 2010 for his activism and was subject to a 20-year ban on filmmaking. Despite these hardships, Panahi managed to produce "It Was Just an Accident" clandestinely, which tells the story of ordinary Iranians confronting a former torturer based on his own conversations with inmates.
In his acceptance speech at Cannes, Panahi called for unity among Iranians, emphasizing the need for freedom of expression, stating, "No-one should dare tell us what kind of clothes we should wear, what we should do, or what we should not do." He expressed his intention to return to Tehran following his participation at the festival, highlighting his commitment to continue his cinematic work despite the risks involved.
