Paris police arrest 20 as demonstrators defy ban on Iran opposition rally

Twenty people were arrested in Paris on Saturday as police moved to enforce a ban on an Iranian opposition rally. Demonstrators gathered at Place Vauban near the Les Invalides, defying the court‑ordered prohibition that was upheld the night before. NCRI organizers said they expected hundreds to attend, and police said there was a risk of clashes between opposing views. France’s foreign ministry denied a link between the ban and discussions on Iran, and there was no immediate comment from Paris police. The NCRI has staged rallies in Paris for years, attracting critics of the Iranian regime.