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The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) held an emergency meeting on Thursday (January 15) at the request of the United States to discuss Iran’s deadly protests, as tensions rose and US President Donald Trump stopped short of spelling out what action Washington might take against Tehran.
The session was convened amid growing international concern over Iran’s violent crackdown on nationwide protests, which has reportedly left thousands dead. Washington sought the meeting as pressure mounted on Tehran over its use of force against demonstrators.
Tehran signals restraint ahead of talks
In the lead-up to the meeting, Tehran appeared to adopt a conciliatory tone, in what was seen as an attempt to defuse tensions after Trump warned of possible action to halt further killings, including executions of protesters detained during the crackdown.
US backs Iranian protesters
Addressing the council, US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said Washington stood with the “brave people of Iran” and underlined that President Trump had made it clear that “all options are on the table” to stop the bloodshed.
Trump has repeatedly warned of possible intervention in support of protesters opposing clerical rule. However, on Thursday, he struck a more cautious, wait-and-see note, saying he had been told the violence was easing and that there was no current plan for large-scale executions.
“President Trump is a man of action, not endless talk like we see at the United Nations. He has made it clear all options are on the table to stop the slaughter,” Waltz said at the meeting convened by the US.
Iran rejects US allegations
Waltz dismissed Iran’s claims that the protests were a foreign-backed plot aimed at justifying military action, saying the regime was spreading such narratives out of fear of its own people.
Iran’s Deputy UN Ambassador Gholamhossein Darzi responded sharply, accusing the US of “lies, distortion of facts, and a deliberate misinformation campaign” to conceal Washington’s alleged role in fuelling unrest. While insisting Iran did not seek escalation, he warned that any act of aggression — direct or indirect — would be met with a “decisive, proportionate, and lawful response”.
Russia criticises US move
Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia accused the US of using the Security Council to “justify blatant aggression and interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state”. He cautioned against attempts to resolve the Iran issue “through strikes aimed at overthrowing an undesirable regime” and urged restraint in Washington and other capitals.
UN, Denmark call for restraint and dialogue
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for “maximum restraint at this sensitive moment”, urging all sides to avoid actions that could lead to further loss of life or spark wider regional escalation, senior UN official Martha Pobee told the council.
Denmark’s UN Ambassador Christina Markus Lassen said the voices of Iranians seeking a better life could no longer be ignored. “For too long the leaders in Tehran have not heeded this call. The time has now come for the government of Iran to finally listen and respond to the will of its people through peaceful means,” she said.
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