The story: Iranian officials and conservative pundits have criticized France for cracking down on protests against President Emanuel Macron's move to increase the pension age from 62 to 64. The strong criticism in part stems from Macron’s support for recent anti-establishment protests in Iran and his meetings with exiled Iranian opposition figures.

The coverage: Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani has in past days repeatedly criticized the French government and police over the crackdown on protests.

• Kanani on Mar. 22 slammed "human rights claimants" in the west for not reacting to "police violence against protesters."
  
  
• Two days later, the ministry spokesman advised the French government to "talk to its people and listen to...