In a series of high-level diplomatic exchanges, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi engaged in separate telephone discussions with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev on Thursday. The conversations centered on recent domestic unrest in Iran, with Araghchi presenting detailed allegations of foreign interference.
The Iranian diplomat asserted that initially peaceful demonstrations over economic concerns had been deliberately hijacked by externally-supported elements. He characterized the subsequent violence as the work of ‘trained terrorists’ operating with backing from the United States and Israel. Araghchi specifically accused Israel of maintaining a ‘direct role in arming and organizing terrorists’ while condemning what he termed ‘meddlesome’ statements from US officials that allegedly encouraged destabilizing activities.
During the dialogue with UN leadership, Araghchi detailed numerous incidents of violence targeting security personnel, civilian populations, emergency medical services, and religious sites. He drew parallels between these actions and tactics employed by the Islamic State, urging both the UN and Security Council to formally denounce the violence alongside what Iran considers illegal interventions by the United States.
In response, Secretary-General Guterres reaffirmed the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, emphasizing the importance of respecting basic human rights while simultaneously rejecting interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states. He specifically referenced provisions regarding the non-use of force or threat of force in international relations.
The parallel discussion with SCO leadership yielded similar diplomatic reinforcement. Secretary-General Yermekbayev underscored the organization’s foundational principles of mutual respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-interference in internal affairs as essential components for sustainable international development.
In related developments, Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, communicated through diplomatic channels that Iran ‘will not be passive in the face of the US threatening rhetoric.’ This statement, delivered to senior Swiss diplomat Gabriel Luechinger, further illustrates Tehran’s firm stance against perceived external pressures.
The ongoing protests, which began in late December across multiple Iranian urban centers, have evolved from expressions of economic dissatisfaction to occasions of significant civil unrest. Iranian authorities maintain they remain open to addressing legitimate economic concerns while simultaneously combating what they describe as foreign-sponsored violence and destabilization efforts.