[Claude Shayets: My government has sent me to meet you. My government has utmost respect for you. I am extremely happy that I got the opportunity to meet you. The Minister and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pay great attention to your presence in France. France is a refuge for all those who have some problem ... I do not have any political question. My responsibility in my ministry is related to the affairs of all the French nationals who live abroad, all the foreigners who live in France or transit France, or take asylum [...]. The reason for my presence here is that I am among the few people who know the condition of the foreigners in France and the rules and criteria for their stay in France. As you probably know, the French government system is a democratic one and the people can freely express their ideas. The foreigners who come to France too can follow those rules and regulations. The French government has a problem with regard to your activities on the French soil, the least of which is the statements made by you. Our government has read your yesterday remarks with great care; this is why I am here today. There are three issues in your yesterday remarks: calling to demonstrations, calling the soldiers to desert their military service and calling to disobedience and riot. Your remarks in this regard have gone beyond the freedom of expression. The law for foreigners- anybody in any manner- from any place that he has come is one. Any foreigner residing in France can criticize the political system of his country and we understand that ... but it is difficult for us to accept a call to disobedience and creation of problem and riot in the country ... One who has been exiled from a country and comes to us, may be our friend or otherwise, it does not make any difference; at any time and under any condition, our laws are similar for all. The objective of my meeting with you is to convey the annoyance and dissatisfaction of the French government with regard to the statement you issued yesterday.]
Imam: I appreciate the French government for leaving us free- after the earlier restrictions. Of course, we expect the French government- that respects the freedom of religion and human beings- to provide this freedom of expression and feel free.
As for the three or two issues that you mentioned: first about the desertion of the soldiers; I should say that when the issue of conscription is legal and the government too is legal and is based on the people's votes, the government itself should announce the conscription and the recruits should render their services. Unfortunately, Iran has neither a legal parliament, nor a legal king nor a legal government. Nevertheless, they forcefully take the soldiers to the barracks. We believe that the Shah and his government are usurpers and believe that we should determine our fate, and that they are ruling by brandishing their guns. The root of our differences with you is about the expression of idea. A soldier is not a soldier in a usurping government. In a country where the Shah is a usurper and has risen against all the interests of the nation, he is an outlaw; nay the government is usurping; hence, even an armed uprising is not a riot; rather it is anti-riot ... If the French government does not like us to announce our right words- our words that all are free to express their right words- we will go to somewhere else annoyingly.
[CS: We are not in a position to judge whether the Shah is right or the Ayatullah; we do not want to enter this issue.]
IK: Have you ever consulted your embassy in Iran to find out the reasons for the massacres that occur? They kill, capture, imprison and banish the people. Here the French government says that we should not talk; should not announce the oppressions. Is it freedom? Is it called freedom?
[CS: We do not want to be inferred from our remarks that we are indifferent toward what is happening in Iran; but the very fact that we have allowed you to work here means that we are taking side. We make distinction between criticism- of any degree and any level- and the mobilization of the people and inviting them to uprising and riot.]
IK: In my opinion, the French government is committing a mistake in this regard:" the issue is to call to riot, it is to be a riot," it is a call to armed uprising against riot; in order to paralyze the riot. The French government is supporting the Shah and it is a mistake. It should support the nation; the Shah will have to go, he will not stay. The nation will remain; they are the base. The Shah is a criminal and it is to the detriment of the prestige of France to support a criminal. France, though a freedom-loving country, says that the oppressed and freedom-fighters should not cry against so that they commit their crime; it is against the interests of France and France must take its future interests into consideration.
CS: [It might be presumptuous if I try in my position to convince him in what he says about the problems; what I mean is not only talking about the interests of the country; rather we observe the law in order to ensure maximum freedom of expression. We understand the impression of your speech and influence of your leadership and take them into consideration. On the basis of all these, I will, in utmost sincerity, convey your remarks to our government.]
IK: You observe how the entire Iranian nation, including the army personnel, respects the French nationals who go to Iran and they know why; for I am here and cry the exclamation of the oppressed people. I do not like this situation to be changed; if the news about the issues you bring to the fore reaches Iran, they will change their ideas and I do not like that to happen. I am your guest. The French government had better review it. I like your friendship with the Iranian nation to continue.
[CS: The fact is that I have not come here to discuss political matters. Our problem is that of the French government. I thank you for the time you spared and admitted me. We have great respect for you; but anyway, in order to remove any ambiguity I shall submit that we will not compromise our law. These laws are above the individuals. With full trust, I will convey your remarks to the higher authorities and will contact again.]