Compelling the Obligor to Perform and Claiming Contractual Liability in Continuous Obligations under Iranian and French Law

Ehsangar, Noura; Yazdanian, Alireza

doi:10.22054/jplr.2026.92611.3008

Compelling the Obligor to Perform and Claiming Contractual Liability in Continuous Obligations under Iranian and French Law

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

noura ehsangar ¹

Alireza Yazdanian ²

¹ Assistant Professor, Department of Law, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Shahrekord University

² Associate Professor of private law at Faculty of Administrative Sciences and Economics, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

10.22054/jplr.2026.92611.3008

Abstract

According to the traditional analysis of contract law, prior to the maturity of an obligation, neither breach of contract nor the possibility of invoking contractual remedies is generally recognized. This approach, reflected in Iranian law under Article 226 of the Civil Code and in French law through the doctrine of mise en demeure and Article 1231 of the French Civil Code, is primarily based on the model of instantaneous obligations. However, in continuous obligations, particularly in construction contracts, pre-sale agreements, and continuous service contracts, the achievement of the contractual objective depends upon the uninterrupted performance of the obligation over time, and the suspension of performance may, even before the final due date, seriously endanger contractual performance. Using a descriptive-analytical method and a comparative approach in Iranian and French law, this study examines the possibility of recognizing breach of continuous obligations prior to the final maturity date. The findings demonstrate that a distinction must be drawn between delay in the performance of the final obligation and interruption of the continuous performance process, and that disruption in continuity of performance may itself constitute an actual breach of obligation. Accordingly, the obligee may seek specific performance, damages, and termination of the contract.

Keywords

Continuous obligation

continuous contract

specific performance

breach of obligation

prior to maturity

Subjects