Iran’s FM Accuses the West of ‘Inciting Unrest’

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian giving a speech before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva (AFP)
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian giving a speech before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva (AFP)
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Iran’s FM Accuses the West of ‘Inciting Unrest’

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian giving a speech before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva (AFP)
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian giving a speech before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva (AFP)

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has accused Western countries of “inciting” unrest in Iran.

In a speech before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Amir-Abdollahian defended the Iranian authorities’ handling of the protests that erupted last September following the death of the young woman, Mahsa Amini, while she was in police custody.

Amir-Abdollahian pointed out that Tehran has formed a committee to investigate all aspects of the “riots,” identify those responsible for the unrest, and “verify allegations and accusations against security forces.”

The foreign minister said that respect for human rights is a “fundamental value rooted” in the ruling establishment in Iran, adding that the Iranian authorities had “sympathized with Amini’s family.”

“No state or a group of states should entitle themselves to claim exclusive ownership or custody of human rights. Nor should any State coerce others into submitting to any self-styled interpretation of human rights,” said Amir-Abdollahian.

“I would like here to outline a few points concerning human rights and the way this lofty concept is projected, and unfortunately manipulated, for political purposes of a limited number of states,” he added, according to a statement released by the Foreign Ministry.

In November, the Human Rights Council approved sending an investigation committee to Iran to probe all violations related to the suppression of protests. Later in December, the UN decided to expel Iran from the UN Committee on Women's Rights.

According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), 530 demonstrators, including 71 minors, were killed in Iran. Authorities have also arrested about 20,000 during an oppressive campaign to quell the protests.

For her part, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock denounced human rights violations and the suppression of protests in Iran.

Baerbock also demanded that any further executions be halted in Iran.



European Powers May Restore UN Sanctions on Iran

FILED - 18 July 2024, United Kingdom, Woodstock: UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy gives an interview at the European Political Community summit. Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa
FILED - 18 July 2024, United Kingdom, Woodstock: UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy gives an interview at the European Political Community summit. Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa
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European Powers May Restore UN Sanctions on Iran

FILED - 18 July 2024, United Kingdom, Woodstock: UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy gives an interview at the European Political Community summit. Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa
FILED - 18 July 2024, United Kingdom, Woodstock: UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy gives an interview at the European Political Community summit. Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa

The European troika, known as the E3, may restore UN sanctions on Iran under the snapback mechanism, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said on Tuesday, warning that the move could increase Tehran's suffering unless it takes a serious stance on stepping back from its nuclear program.

Speaking to the UK parliament’s foreign affairs select committee, Lammy said: “Iran faces even more pressure in the coming weeks because the E3 can snap back on our sanctions, and it’s not just our sanctions, it’s actually a UN mechanism that would impose dramatic sanctions on Iran across nearly every single front in its economy.”

“So they have a choice to make. It’s a choice for them to make. I’m very clear about the choice they should make, but I’m also clear that the UK has a decision to make that could lead to far greater pain for the Iranian regime unless they get serious about the international desire to see them step back from their nuclear ambitions,” he added.

Meanwhile, a French diplomatic source told Reuters on Tuesday that European powers would have to restore UN sanctions on Iran if there were no nuclear deal that guaranteed European security interests.

The source spoke after a call between French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and Lammy ahead of a Franco-British summit.

Last Thursday, France threatened “retaliatory measures” against Tehran if it persisted with new charges against a French couple held in Iran, including accusations that they spied for Israel.

Snapback Mechanism

France, Britain and Germany - the E3 – are threatening to activate the snapback mechanism that would reinstate all United Nations Security Council sanctions previously levied on Iran.

According to diplomats, the E3 countries may trigger the snapback by August if no substantial deal can be found by then. The window closes on October 18.

UN resolution 2231 allows a State Party to the agreement to address a complaint to the Security Council about significant non-performance by another JCPOA participant.

Within 30 days of receiving such a notification, the UN Security Council shall vote on a draft resolution to either maintain the termination of previous sanctions or allow them to be reimposed.

European powers are considering triggering the snapback mechanism after Iran's decision to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).