Iran Protests A ‘Domestic Issue’, China Tells UNSC

TEHRAN (defapress) – The Chinese deputy ambassador to the United Nations criticized a United Nations Security Council meeting to discuss the recent protests in Iran, saying that the protests in the country against high prices were a “domestic issue”.

News ID: 67946

Date: 06 January 2018 - 14:40

The protests were a "domestic issue" of Iran and discussing them at the council "does not help resolve" them, Wu Haitao said addressing the session on Friday, according to Reuters.

Russia also took a similar line, saying, “We obviously regret the loss of lives as a result of the demonstrations that were not so peaceful. However, let Iran deal with its own problems, especially since this is precisely what’s taking place”.

On Friday, the UNSC held an emergency meeting at the request of the United States to discuss the protests. Washington, however, found itself at odds with its European partners, who used the hard-won debate to reject American efforts to make the protests an excuse for ditching the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Last week, peaceful protests over rising prices and economic problems broke out in some Iranian cities, but the unauthorized gatherings turned violent after a number of opportunists, some of them armed, vandalized public property and launched attacks on police stations and government buildings.

Iranian security officials say they have hard evidence that the protests were directed from abroad.

Officials say many rioters arrested in the unrest have been trained by the terrorist Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) or had links with the Takfiri groups.

Following the unrest, people of Iran held several demonstrations across the country to condemn the violent riots and acts of vandalism, and voice support for the Islamic Republic’s Establishment.

Iranian officials maintain that people have the right to stage protests to express their opinions, as long as rallies comply with the legal conditions.