Briefing on Protests in Iran
This afternoon (15 January), the Security Council will convene for an open briefing on the recent protests in Iran. The meeting, which will be held under the agenda item “The situation in the Middle East”, was requested by the US. Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO) Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee and two representatives of civil society are expected to brief. Iran will participate in the meeting under rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure.
The nationwide protests, which analysts have described as the most serious challenge to the Iranian government since the 1979 revolution that brought it to power, began on 28 December 2025 after the value of the Iranian rial collapsed to a record low. The protests started in Tehran and initially focused on economic issues, including inflation, widespread unemployment, and low wages, before turning into violent anti-government demonstrations and spreading throughout the country.
After initial attempts by the government to address the protesters’ economic concerns failed to quell the demonstrations, Iranian security forces appear to have ramped up their already violent crackdown on the protests. Although Iranian authorities imposed a nationwide telecommunications blackout on 8 January, there have been media reports referring to witness accounts of government forces firing on crowds indiscriminately, victims arriving at hospitals with close-range gunshot wounds, and the use of tear gas to disperse protesters. The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), a press association founded by Iranian human rights activists, has reported that at least 2,615 people have been killed during the protests, while also noting that the full extent of the violence and repression may have been concealed by the communications blackout.
US President Donald Trump has threatened military intervention in response to the crackdown. In a 2 January social media post, Trump warned that if Iran “violently kills peaceful protesters” the US “will come to their rescue”, saying “we are locked and loaded and ready to go”. On 13 January, Trump called on Iranians to continue protesting and said that “help is on its way”. In a 13 January letter to the Security Council (S/2026/29), Iran described this statement as a “flagrant violation of the fundamental principles of international law enshrined in the [UN Charter], in particular the prohibition of the threat or use of force under Article 2(4) and the principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs of states under Article 2(7)”. The letter also urged the Council to condemn all forms of incitement to violence, threats to use force, and interference in Iran’s internal affairs by the US.
According to media reports, the Pentagon has presented Trump with a range of possible targets for a military strike, including facilities used in Iran’s nuclear programme and ballistic missile sites. Yesterday (14 January), several media outlets reported that the UK and the US had reduced the number of personnel stationed at the Al-Udeid airbase in Qatar, while Iran closed its airspace for several hours on the same day, moves that had previously preceded military action in the region.
At the same time, both Iran and the US have signalled willingness to pursue dialogue. In remarks reported on 12 January, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that “diplomacy is always the first option for the president”, while noting that airstrikes are one of the “many, many options that are on the table”. On the same day, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told reporters that Iran was “also ready for negotiations”, provided that they are “fair, with equal rights and mutual respect”, while noting that communication channels between him and US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff remained open.
The US has also sought to increase its economic pressure on Iran in recent days. On 12 January, Trump announced that any country “doing business” with Iran will pay a 25 percent tariff on any trade with the US, “effective immediately”. Today (15 January), the US imposed sanctions on five Iranian officials who it accused of being involved with the crackdown on the protests.
On 11 January, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Stéphane Dujarric issued a statement expressing shock regarding reports of violence and excessive use of force against protesters in Iran. The statement urged Iranian authorities to exercise maximum restraint, refrain from unnecessary or disproportionate use of force, and take steps that enable access to information in the country, including restoring communications. In a 13 January statement, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk urged Iranian authorities to halt all forms of violence and repression against peaceful protesters and to restore full access to internet and telecommunications services. Türk also highlighted Iranians’ right to demonstrate peacefully and called for accountability for serious violations. Pobee may echo these messages at today’s meeting.
On 9 January, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz issued a statement regarding the protests. The statement expressed deep concern about reports of violence, strongly condemned the killing of protesters, and said that “Iranian authorities have the responsibility to protect their own population and must allow for the freedom of expression and peaceful assembly without fear of reprisal”. The statement also urged the Iranian government to exercise restraint, refrain from violence, and uphold the fundamental rights of its citizens. Like-minded Council members are likely to convey similar messages in their statements this afternoon.
During a 13 January press conference, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova condemned “subversive external interference in Iran’s internal political processes” and said that “the threats emanating from Washington regarding further military strikes against [Iran] are categorically unacceptable”. On 15 January, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke with Araghchi. According to media reports, Wang told Araghchi that China opposes imposing its will on other countries and a return to the “law of the jungle”, while noting that China believes that Iran will overcome its difficulties, maintain stability, and safeguard its legitimate rights and interests. China and Russia may reinforce some of these points during this afternoon’s meeting.
Council members last discussed protests in Iran during an Arria-formula meeting held on 2 November 2022. (For more information, see our 1 November 2022 What’s in Blue story.)
