UN Security Council Meeting Held on Iran's Unrest

The UN Security Council held a meeting regarding the unrest and suppression of protesters in Iran. This emergency session was convened at the request of the United States. Russia requested at the last moment that a closed-door meeting be held before the public session. Some speculations suggested that Russia wanted to use regulations to prevent the public session on the protests and unrest in Iran. However, Security Council members can vote to enter the topic, and in this case, 9 out of 15 Security Council votes were needed to hold the session, and it seems the necessary votes for a public meeting were obtained. Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, stated on Thursday evening: "If a country wants to prevent even the holding of a meeting, its actions are like the regime ruling Iran, which does not allow its people's voices to be heard." Reports indicate that Ms. Haley praised the Iranian protesters in today's public Security Council meeting, stating that they need the world's help. She emphasized that the current unrest in Iran affects not only human rights but also global peace and security. Ms. Haley added: "The Iranian government has now received the necessary warning; the world is watching what you are doing." According to reports, the French ambassador to the Security Council reacted to part of Nikki Haley's remarks, stating that the events in Iran cannot be considered "a threat to global peace and security." Francois Delattre said: "As concerning as the recent events in Iran may be, they are not at a level to define them as a threat to global security and peace." During the meeting, Matthew Rycroft, the British ambassador to the UN Security Council, also described the situation in Iran as concerning, stating: "The failure to halt death sentences, including the execution of minors in Iran, the weakness of the rule of law, and the imposition of restrictions on freedom of expression and belief are all deeply concerning issues." Reports indicate that during this session, Vasily Nebenzia, the Russian ambassador to the UN, criticized the discussion of protests in Iran at the Security Council. Vasily Nebenzia accused the US of diverting the Security Council's attention from essential issues. He emphasized: "Instead of directing the Security Council's energy towards fundamental crises such as the situation in Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, Iraq, Yemen, North Korea, and the African continent, you are proposing to interfere in the internal affairs of a country." The Russian ambassador also stated: "It is clear that we regret that people lost their lives in these protests, which were not peaceful. But let Iran resolve its issues itself; that is what it is currently doing." Before this meeting, Sergey Ryabkov, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, stated that Moscow urges the US "not to interfere in Iran's internal affairs." Gholamali Khoshroo, Iran's permanent representative to the UN, also sent a letter to the Secretary-General and UN officials complaining about what he called "Washington's blatant interference in Iran's internal affairs," writing that Donald Trump and his deputy, Mike Pence, are "personally creating chaos in Iran." In the past week, Donald Trump, the US President, has expressed his full support for the protesters in Iran through daily messages, and other US officials have issued similar statements. Mike Pence, the US Vice President, told the protesting youth in the streets of Iran on Wednesday that they should consider the United States as their "natural ally" in their quest for freedom and democracy, announcing that the US is ready to take action in support of the protesters and will use "all its economic weight" against the Iranian government. According to the latest reports, during the unrest in Iran, 22 people have been killed, and at least 1,700 have been arrested in 9 provinces of Iran. Reports from German news agency, Reuters, and France indicate concerns from human rights experts and Amnesty International regarding the treatment of Iranian protesters. The Friday prayer leader of Tehran stated that the protests have subsided after the filtering of social media networks. A parliament representative mentioned that about 90 students have been arrested across the country. The fate of the protests, who the protesters in Iran are, the changing landscape of "proxy wars," the crisis in Iran, the responsibility of the opposition, and the potential radicalization of Iranian society are all topics of discussion. The last representative of Mossad in Tehran passed away amid the crisis in Iran. Internet shutdown in Iran has exceeded 300 hours; reports of "evidence" of the killing of injured individuals under treatment continue. The last representative of Mossad in Tehran passed away amid the crisis in Iran. Accounts from three witnesses describe the situation in Isfahan province as "like war-torn areas." Trump emphasized the "halt of executions in Iran": we do not know what will happen in the future. Trump announced an agreement to hold a meeting about Greenland in Davos.