Guterres calls on Iran to respect protests, and Trump warns against repression
Amid escalating internal tensions in Iran, UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a direct and explicit call to the authorities in Tehran to respect citizens' rights to peaceful protest and freedom of expression. This UN appeal comes at a sensitive time, as Iranian cities are experiencing a wave of ongoing protests that, according to official statements and consistent media reports, have resulted in the deaths of at least 12 people, raising international concern about the security forces' handling of the protests.
United Nations position: A call for restraint
The spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric, conveyed the international organization's concern regarding the ongoing events, emphasizing in a press statement that Guterres is unequivocally stressing the need to prevent further casualties. Dujarric explained that the UN message includes a call for the Iranian authorities to respect their international human rights obligations, specifically the right to peaceful assembly, noting that "all individuals should be allowed to demonstrate peacefully and express their demands without fear of persecution or violence.".
US escalation: Trump hints at intervention
On the other side of the international scene, the United States adopted a more aggressive stance, with President Donald Trump warning that Washington was closely monitoring the situation and was "ready to act." This warning came via his Truth Social platform, a day after reports emerged of six people killed in clashes between protesters and security forces. Trump wrote in a clearly threatening tone: "If Iran shoots and kills peaceful protesters, the United States of America will step in to save them," adding a phrase with both military and political implications: "We are locked and loaded and ready to act.".
Iranian response: A warning against crossing red lines
Iran's response to the American threats was swift. Ali Shamkhani, advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, issued a strongly worded warning, declaring any American interference in Iran's internal affairs a "red line." Speaking on the "X" platform, Shamkhani asserted that Iranian national security is not a matter for reckless tweets, sarcastically alluding to America's history in the region by saying, "The Iranian people know very well the experience of American rescue." Shamkhani vowed that any hand attempting to harm Iran's security under any pretext "will face a regrettable response and will be cut off" before it can achieve its objectives.
Context of events and history of tensions
These developments come within a long history of tensions between Tehran and Washington, with internal protests in Iran often serving as a point of international friction. Iran has long faced Western criticism regarding its human rights record and its treatment of internal dissent, while Tehran views this criticism as blatant interference in its national sovereignty and an attempt to destabilize the regime from abroad.
Expected regional and international impacts
This escalation is expected to cast a shadow over the regional and international landscape, as continued violence against protesters could lead to new international sanctions or further diplomatic isolation of Tehran. The war of words between the United States and Iran is also raising tensions in the Middle East, potentially impacting other outstanding issues such as nuclear negotiations and maritime security in the Gulf. Observers fear that the diplomatic tension could spill over into clashes on the ground if either side decides to carry out its threats.
