UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric briefed reporters in New York on Monday regarding the ongoing protests in Iran, noting that demonstrations have taken place in Tehran, Yasuj, and across a majority of Iranian provinces, according to human rights activists and online reports. Videos circulating on social media have highlighted the scale of these protests, reflecting widespread public unrest.
Human rights groups report that at least 20 people, including three children, have been killed amid a security crackdown, with hundreds more arrested, including minors. The situation has drawn international attention, with US President Donald Trump warning that the United States would intervene if Iranian authorities continued to use lethal force against protesters. In response, Iran addressed the UN Secretary-General and Security Council, urging condemnation of what it called “unlawful threats” towards the country.
In his briefing, Dujarric conveyed UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s call to prevent further casualties and uphold the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly. Guterres stressed that all individuals should be able to protest peacefully and that authorities, as well as regional actors, must refrain from actions that could escalate tensions or contribute to instability.
