The death toll from anti-government protests in Iran could have reportedly reached about 3,000, but the actual status remains unclear. Iran’s UN Ambassador has condemned US President Donald Trump for calling on the people of Iran to keep protesting.
The demonstrations have spread across Iran since late December, amid soaring prices partly caused by Western countries’ economic sanctions. Protesters and authorities have clashed violently during the unrest.
The Iranian government has not disclosed the number of deaths.
The New York Times on Tuesday quoted an anonymous Iranian official as saying about 3,000 people, including security officers, have been killed. A US-based human rights group put the number at over 2,500.
No large-scale demonstrations were confirmed on the night of Monday and Tuesday in the capital, Tehran. No major disturbances were observed on Wednesday.
The Iranian ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, issued a statement on Tuesday, condemning Trump.
Trump made a comment on Tuesday, saying “to all Iranian patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS !!!” He added “HELP IS ON ITS WAY.”
Iravani said that Trump’s remark “explicitly encourages political destabilization, incites and invites violence, and threatens the sovereignty” of Iran.
The ambassador said the remark “constitutes a flagrant violation of the fundamental principles of international law enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, in particular the prohibition of the threat or use of force” and “the principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs of States.”
He pointed out the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the country that currently holds the US Security Council presidency should ask parties, including the United States, to immediately cease their policies and measures which are destabilizing Iran.
Trump has suggested possible military action against Iran, but did not disclose any details.