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.



EU Commission Discusses Curbs on Israel Research Funding amid Gaza Pressure

 Palestinians inspect the site struck by an Israeli bombardment in Muwasi, Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Monday, July 28, 2025. (AP)
Palestinians inspect the site struck by an Israeli bombardment in Muwasi, Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Monday, July 28, 2025. (AP)
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EU Commission Discusses Curbs on Israel Research Funding amid Gaza Pressure

 Palestinians inspect the site struck by an Israeli bombardment in Muwasi, Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Monday, July 28, 2025. (AP)
Palestinians inspect the site struck by an Israeli bombardment in Muwasi, Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Monday, July 28, 2025. (AP)

European Commissioners will on Monday discuss a proposal to partially suspend Israel's access to the EU's Horizon research funding program following calls from EU governments to increase pressure on Israel over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Multiple EU countries said last week that Israel was not living up to its commitments under an agreement with the European Union on increasing aid supplies to Gaza and asked the Commission to put concrete options on the table.

The proposal was mentioned in a published agenda of Monday's meeting of the College of Commissioners, the top decision-making body of the European Union's executive. But the Commission has not explained it in detail.

EU and Israeli officials had no immediate comment on the proposal.

Israel has been participating in the EU's research programs since 1996, taking part in thousands of joint research projects over the past decades.

Earlier this month, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Israel had agreed to expand humanitarian access to Gaza, including increasing the number of aid trucks, crossing points and routes to distribution hubs.

But in a tense meeting of European ambassadors in Brussels last week, countries including France, the Netherlands and Spain said not enough was being done, according to diplomats.

Earlier this month, EU officials presented a list of options that the bloc could pursue to put pressure on Israel, but the bloc has so far refrained from pursuing any of them.

Israel on Sunday announced a halt in military operations for 10 hours a day in parts of Gaza and new aid corridors, while Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have airdropped supplies into the enclave.

But officials and aid groups remain concerned and say much more needs to be done to alleviate the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.