On 7 December 2010, the Centre for Political and Foreign Affairs (CPFA) in Paris hosted a major event bringing together Mohammed Reza Heydari, former Consul General of Iran to Norway, Nazanin Afshin-Jam, Iranian human rights activist, and Jack Lang, former French Minister of Culture. The sessions were moderated by Renaud Girard, with the assistance of French philosopher Pascal Bruckner, offering a rare convergence of diplomatic, activist, and cultural perspectives on Iran and the broader Middle East.

The day opened with a breakfast gathering of strategists, policymakers, intellectuals, and journalists. Discussions centred on the state of human rights in Iran, the experience of political dissent, and the challenges of confronting authoritarian regimes while preserving cultural and diplomatic engagement. Each of the speakers contributed their unique vantage point: Heydari as a defector from the Iranian regime, Afshin-Jam as a leading activist, and Lang as a prominent French statesman with a long record of cultural diplomacy.

The programme continued with a private lunch for a limited number of politicians, diplomats, and intellectuals, allowing for more candid exchanges. The intimate format encouraged debate not only on Iran’s domestic situation but also on the implications for regional security and international relations. By combining public discussion with a discreet political dialogue, the event highlighted CPFA’s ability to convene diverse voices for nuanced reflection on some of the most pressing issues of the time.