Zarif's Reaction to UN Security Council Meeting on Iran

On Saturday, Mohammad Javad Zarif described the U.S. request for a UN Security Council meeting regarding unrest in Iran as another "stupid mistake" in Donald Trump's foreign policy. At the request of the U.S., the Security Council convened on Saturday, January 5, to discuss the unrest in Iran, but the meeting ended without any results. In response to this U.S. action, Zarif tweeted: "The UN Security Council repelled the U.S.'s blatant attempt to divert the work of this council. The majority of members emphasized the necessity of fully implementing the JCPOA and refraining from interfering in the internal affairs of other members. Another blunder by the Trump administration." The recent protests in various cities of Iran resulted in at least 22 deaths and the arrest of hundreds. In reaction to these events, Nikki Haley, the U.S. representative to the UN, stated at the Security Council meeting: "The Iranian regime is now being warned: the world is watching your actions." The U.S. representative emphasized that unrest in Iran could escalate into a full-blown conflict like that in Syria. U.S. officials have recently supported the protests in Iran, with President Donald Trump promising support to Iranian protesters. Haley also mentioned in the Security Council that "the people of Iran have risen in 79 locations across the country. This is a strong message from brave people who are fed up with their repressive government and are willing to risk their lives in protest." In response to the U.S. ambassador's remarks, Vasily Nebenzia, the Russian ambassador to the UN, said: "If we apply your logic, then we should have convened a Security Council meeting for the events in Ferguson or the use of force to disperse the 'Occupy Wall Street' movement in Manhattan." Russia had previously attempted to halt the Security Council meeting, stating that it could be interpreted as interference in Iran's internal affairs. However, the U.S. managed to hold the meeting with the required votes. At the Security Council meeting, Francois Delattre, the French representative to the UN, stated: "No matter how concerning the recent events in Iran are, they do not in themselves pose a threat to global peace and security. We must be vigilant against any attempts to exploit this crisis for personal goals, which may completely contradict the desired outcome." The French representative also described the nuclear agreement with Iran as a turning point for stability in the Middle East. Matthew Rycroft, the British representative to the UN, while expressing full commitment to the nuclear agreement, called it one of the great successes of diplomacy. The British representative also urged Iran to allow peaceful protests. He noted that Iran often pursues its legitimate security interests in ways that endanger others and weaken Iran's economy. Gholamali Khoshroo, the Iranian representative, in a statement read at the Security Council, labeled the U.S. action as interference in Iran's internal affairs and cited examples of police violence in the U.S., such as the treatment of protesters during the 'Occupy Wall Street' movement and the behavior of police during the 'Los Angeles riots' in 1992. The Iranian representative also claimed that violence in Iran was clearly directed from abroad by a small number of protesters, which in some cases led to the deaths of police and security forces, stating that "this includes encouraging and training people to use Molotov cocktails and seize ammunition depots and resort to armed rebellion." The recent protests began last Thursday following a gathering against price hikes in Mashhad's Shahid Square but quickly spread to other cities in Iran, where the slogans took on a political tone, with protesters chanting anti-government slogans and against the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. While Islamic Republic officials, including the commander of the IRGC, have sought to identify foreign agents behind the recent protests, many political figures and analysts in Iran have warned that instead of finding scapegoats and suppressing protesters, the country's structural problems, including "systematic corruption," transparency in expenditures, and accountability of governmental institutions should be prioritized.