In a tense United Nations Security Council session convened at Washington’s request, U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz delivered a forceful declaration of support for Iranian protesters while dismissing Tehran’s allegations of foreign intervention as baseless propaganda. The emergency meeting on Thursday (January 15) addressed the escalating violence in Iran where thousands have reportedly been killed during widespread demonstrations against clerical rule.
Ambassador Waltz characterized the Iranian regime as ‘weaker than ever before,’ asserting that their claims of a foreign-backed military precursor represented desperate attempts to undermine genuine domestic dissent. ‘The regime is putting forward this lie because of the power of the Iranian people in the streets,’ Waltz stated. ‘They are afraid of their own people.’
The U.S. diplomat emphasized President Trump’s position that ‘all options are on the table to stop the slaughter,’ describing the American leader as ‘a man of action, not endless talk.’ This strong rhetoric contrasted with Trump’s simultaneous wait-and-see approach expressed elsewhere, where he acknowledged reports of decreasing violence and indicated no immediate plans for large-scale executions.
The UN response, delivered by senior official Martha Pobee on behalf of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, called for ‘maximum restraint at this sensitive moment.’ The international body urged all parties to refrain from actions that could precipitate further casualties or trigger broader regional escalation, highlighting concerns about the potential for wider conflict.
The diplomatic confrontation occurs amid unverified reports that Iran has postponed the execution of a 26-year-old protester, suggesting possible internal divisions within the Iranian establishment regarding how to manage the unprecedented challenges to their authority.