The reaction in Iran to the murder of 12 people by Islamic extremists at the French magazine Charlie Hebdo, which had been attacked previously for publishing cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, has been somewhat mixed. All have condemned the terrorist actions. But there have been nuances and equivocations in the media, reflecting Iran's political considerations and its own history with the treatment of Islam by European artists.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham condemned the attack, saying, “Any terrorist act against innocent civilians is foreign to the teachings of Islam.” However, Afkham also said it was unacceptable “to take advantage of freedom of speech” and to “insult divine religions and the symbols of these religions.”

She added this type of terrorist act is part of the wave of violence and extremism that has engulfed the region in the last decade and “unfortunately, due to the wrong policies and double standards” in response to terrorism, these types of acts have increased.

Afkham's statement was indirect, but she was most likely referring to US and European support for Syrian opposition groups, policies that Iran blames for increasing terrorism in the region. Tasnim News Agency, also taking that position, translated an article from Arabic-language Alahed, which reported, “After four continuous years of supporting armed takfiri groups in Syria to overthrow [President] Bashar al-Assad, what has been predicted by French security officials has occurred.”