By Hajer M'tiri
PARIS (AA) - France on Tuesday expressed concern over the "large number" of arrests and casualties during the ongoing protests in Iran.
According to a statement by the Foreign Ministry, France is "paying close attention" to the situation in Iran.
"The right to protest is a fundamental right. So is the right to information," it added.
In the coming weeks, France will discuss these human rights issues with the Iranian authorities, the statement said.
Asked if Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian will cancel his scheduled visit to Tehran on Friday, a spokesman of the ministry said he had no information about the issue at this stage.
"As the minister has had the opportunity to say on several occasions, France is in favor of a regular, direct and demanding dialogue with Iran," he said.
Thousands of Iranians hit the streets Thursday in the northeastern cities of Mashhad and Kashmar to protest rising commodity prices and perceived government mismanagement, according to local media reports.
Thursday's protests were followed by pro-government protests on Saturday.
At least 23 people have been killed and more than 500 reportedly detained in the protests, according to local media reports.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday warned Iranians against the ongoing anti-government protests.
Several countries including the U.K., U.S. and Canada have expressed their concerns at the wave of protests which have entered their fifth day.