Statement by the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran at the emergency meeting of the Security Council on January 15, 2026.

Source : UNSC

See also the full statements of Russia and China. and The Grayzone’s investigation (Western media whitewashes deadly riots in Iran, relying on US govt-funded regime change NGOs).

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

Mr. President,

Let me state from the outset our firm objection to the participation of the so-called representatives of civil society [Masih Alinejad and Ahmad Batebi, agents paid by Washington; see Dirty money: Meet the US agent driving the CIA-led riots in Iran].

I must be absolutely clear. Both briefers imposed by the representative of the United States regime under this false label do not represent Iran’s civil society. They represent the political agenda of the United States and Israeli regimes. They have lived outside Iran for more than two decades and have consistently engaged in incitement to violence and promotion of extremist and terrorist activities, including advocating and facilitating the use of lethal force against law-enforcement officers.

Their presence here is therefore neither legitimate nor credible, and it fundamentally undermines the integrity of this discussion. It is shameful that the United States regime has transformed this esteemed body into a stage for theater and spectacle, for baseless accusations and statements. This is consistent with the United States’ broader policy of dismantling and discrediting the United Nations system.

If one wishes to look for genuine cases, the killing of an innocent woman in Minnesota last week and the nationwide crackdown that followed could be brought here, with proper testimony and briefings. Please, let us teach the meaning of a briefing. A briefing is different from a personal statement or an accusation. Please do not present these individuals to the world as representatives of Iran’s civil society. Their acts and statements regarding Iran are far from civil, and they have long been detached from Iranian society. They amplify the Israeli–American foreign agenda. They are both on the Mossad’s payroll, according to undeniable evidence.

We have taken note of the briefing provided by the Assistant Secretary-General. Regrettably, it was one-sided and not grounded in factual evidence.

Mr. President,

I wish to extend my deepest condolences, with a heavy and grieving heart, to the brave people of my country and to the families of the many victims. In recent weeks, Iran has lost numerous innocent civilians and devoted members of its security and law-enforcement forces. Many of our young people were brutally murdered in acts of extreme violence resulting from atrocities committed by ISIS-affiliated elements. Many police officers sacrificed their lives in the line of duty to protect civilians and preserve public order.

I speak today on behalf of a nation in mourning. It is deeply regrettable that the representative of the United States regime who requested this meeting has resorted to lies, distortion of facts, and deliberate misinformation in order to conceal his country’s direct involvement in steering unrest in Iran toward violence.

In fact, the United States’ request for this meeting is shameful, as it seeks to conceal its direct complicity in the crimes committed against our nation between 8 and 10 January as part of Israel’s malicious attempt to drag America into another war of aggression against Iran, under the hollow pretext of concern for the Iranian people and claims of support for human rights.

The United States regime is attempting to portray itself as a friend of the Iranian people while simultaneously laying the groundwork for political destabilization and military intervention under a so-called humanitarian narrative. These claims are particularly cynical when viewed against the United States’ long and well-documented record of unlawful military interventions, regime-change operations, and systematic violations of international law and the UN Charter.

Across the world, these policies have led to mass civilian casualties, the collapse of states, prolonged humanitarian disasters, and the emergence and empowerment of extremist and terrorist groups. This is not a matter of opinion; it is a matter of historical record.

The Iranian people have, for decades, experienced the true meaning of this so-called support. The United States’ pattern of coercion and interference under deceptive pretexts is clear: from the orchestration of the 1953 coup against the democratically elected government of Dr. Mossadegh, to its extensive political, military, and intelligence backing of Saddam’s war of aggression against Iran; from the downing of Iran Air Flight 655 in 1988, killing 290 innocent civilians, to its complicity in assassinations, sabotage, and attacks against Iranian civilians and infrastructure, including the war of aggression carried out in June 2025.

From decades of unlawful unilateral sanctions to systematic economic coercion, these measures have gravely violated the Iranian people’s fundamental rights, including their inherent rights to life, health, and development.

Unfortunately, several Western members of this Council, including the United Kingdom and France, have once again adopted their familiar double standards. While claiming to champion human rights and support the Iranian people, they have, alongside the United States, imposed some of the most severe and unlawful sanctions in modern history—sanctions that have inflicted widespread suffering on civilians. At the same time, they have failed to condemn, let alone sanction, the Israeli regime for its acts of genocide and crimes against humanity.

Mr. President,

Between 8 and 10 January 2026, the people and government of the Islamic Republic of Iran were confronted with ISIS-style acts of terrorism and extreme violence across the country. Peaceful protests that began on 28 December 2025 with legitimate economic demands were deliberately hijacked by organized armed groups and transformed into violent riots.

Documented cases include beheadings, people burned alive, police officers and ordinary citizens beaten to death, the desperate use of firearms, and the deliberate torching of ambulances, fire engines, health facilities, residential buildings, and places of worship. These were not isolated incidents. They reflect a clear and systematic pattern of organized violence.

A significant number of police officers were killed or severely injured. These heavy casualties demonstrate the extreme brutality of the terrorist elements involved.

The situation is, in fact, very simple. The United States regime and its accomplices, particularly the Israeli regime, cannot evade responsibility for the innocent blood that has been shed in my country. Unable to achieve their objectives through the 12-day war of aggression against Iran in June 2025, they now seek to pursue the same goals through political destabilization, internal unrest, and chaos.

This strategy relies on manufacturing casualties, spreading false and inflated figures, and creating a pretext for foreign intervention. It is a familiar script, used repeatedly from Iraq to Libya and Venezuela.

Mr. President,

Allow me to recall only a few of the interventionist and reckless statements made by U.S. officials that clearly demonstrate Washington’s direct involvement in these unrests.

On 29 December 2025, during a joint press conference with the Prime Minister of the Israeli regime, the President of the United States declared:
“If Iran continues with its missile program, yes, I support a strike. If they continue with their nuclear program, the strike should be immediate.”
He further threatened: “We’re going to have to knock them down. We’ll knock them down. We’ll knock the hell out of them.”

On 2 January, former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo openly acknowledged the presence of Mossad agents among the rioters, stating:
“Happy New Year to every Iranian in the street. Also to every Mossad agent beside them.”

On 3 January 2026, the U.S. President declared:
“We are locked and loaded and ready to go.”

On 10 January 2026, Senator Lindsey Graham publicly incited violence, stating:
“When President Trump says ‘Make Iran Great Again,’ it means protesters in Iran should defeat the Ayatollah.”

On 12 January, the White House spokesperson confirmed that President Trump would not hesitate to use military force against Iran. On the same day, Senator Graham declared:
“Iran’s leadership must be destroyed. This is the best opportunity since 1979 to change the Middle East.”

On 13 January, the U.S. President stated:
“Iranian patriots, keep protesting. Take over your institutions. Help is on its way.”

The statement of the U.S. representative today must be added to this list.

These are not isolated remarks. They constitute explicit calls for regime change, violence, and military aggression.

Mr. President,

The exploitation of peaceful protests for geopolitical purposes and the reckless endangerment of civilian lives are fully aligned with the destructive role that unlawful unilateral sanctions have played in creating this situation. Claims of concern for human rights ring hollow when made by those who have systematically violated them.

Three days ago, millions of Iranians marched nationwide to restore calm, support law and order, and reject reckless attempts to push the country into civil conflict. President Trump chose to ignore this historic display of unity and restraint. Instead, he issued provocative statements aimed at reigniting unrest. The Iranian people rejected this call, and calm has since been restored.

Any threat or use of force against the Islamic Republic of Iran, under any pretext—including claims of protecting protesters—constitutes a grave violation of international law and the UN Charter. Such actions violate Article 2(4), which prohibits the threat or use of force, and Article 2(7), which enshrines the principle of non-interference.

No doctrine, narrative, or political justification can legitimize unilateral military action without explicit Security Council authorization under Chapter VII. Invoking humanitarian rhetoric to justify force is a deliberate abuse of international law.

The Security Council, its members, and the Secretary-General bear a clear legal, moral, and political responsibility to reject such actions before it is too late. The credibility of the United Nations and the survival of the Charter depend on whether this fundamental prohibition is upheld or eroded by one of its permanent members.

Mr. President,

Iran seeks neither escalation nor confrontation. However, any act of aggression, direct or indirect, will be met with a decisive, proportionate, and lawful response under Article 51 of the Charter. This is not a threat; it is a statement of legal reality. Responsibility for the consequences will rest solely with those who initiate such unlawful acts.

The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran remains fully committed to its human-rights obligations, including the right to peaceful protest. It has exercised maximum restraint while fulfilling its duty to protect its people and preserve public order. However, incitement to violence, encouragement of internal destabilization, and explicit threats of military action constitute a threat to international peace and security under Article 39 of the Charter.

In conclusion, Mr. President, we categorically reject all politically motivated accusations made today against my government. The facts on the ground contradict the fabricated narratives presented by the United States and its allies.

The claim that the Islamic Republic of Iran has killed peaceful protesters is a gross distortion of reality. What Iranian security forces confronted were armed ISIS-style terrorist cells and violent separatist groups funded and supported by foreign actors, including the Israeli regime. These groups deliberately targeted civilians and law-enforcement officers in an attempt to ignite civil war and invite foreign intervention.

The claim that internet restrictions were imposed to conceal wrongdoing is equally false. Temporary limitations were necessary to protect the nation from hostile cyber operations and to disrupt terrorist networks coordinating attacks from within our cities.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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