As in other countries in the East like Turkey or Russia, French is a popular language at school in Iran, especially among the elites. It comes second or third, far behind English, alongside German.
Québec is a major reason why Iranians learn French today, when they do, as it is a popular destination for emigration and favors those migrants who show proficiency in French.
The language is historically linked with the history of Iran, as France and Persia have been having diplomatic relations and alliances for 3 centuries, involving notably king Louis XIV and emperor Napoléon Ier. The last shahs and their family did know French, intellectuals in Iran were keen on learning the language as a mean to open themselves on the West and Europe and you could find many French-speaking schools (like in the book Persépolis).
Today most of loan words in Irani Persian are from the French (besides Arabic and Turkish) and La Revue de Téhéran is one of the very few foreign language newspapers in Iran.
When I was in Iran, I did find some French-speaking Iranians. The language has lost most of its preeminence in the country, but is still popular among students as a third language. You meet them easily when you attend international meetings like with Couchsurfing.
It will be of little help in the streets though. Even English does not reach very far in a country that’s been suffering years of international embargo and relative isolation. Better learn Persian, one of the most beautiful and refine languages I know : it is to the Middle-East what French has been to Europe.
