In a tense emergency session of the UN Security Council addressing the protests in Iran, the United States has issued a stark warning to Tehran, indicating that all military options remain viable. The session saw representatives of both nations engage in pointed exchanges as the situation in Iran escalates.
US Ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, emphasized the readiness of President Donald Trump to take military action should Iranian authorities persist in employing lethal measures against protesters. “Colleagues, let me be clear: President Trump is a man of action, not endless talk like we see at the United Nations,” Waltz stated. “He has made it clear that all options are on the table to stop the slaughter. And no one should know that better than the leadership of the Iranian regime.”
Escalating tensions amidst protests
Waltz’s comments reflect growing concerns regarding US retaliation in response to the deaths of protesters, although Trump hinted at a potential de-escalation, suggesting the violence might be waning. Reports indicate that the protests, which have challenged the Tehran regime, are increasingly being suppressed, with the government imposing a communication blackout to stifle information.
During the Security Council discussions, Hossein Darzi, the deputy Iranian ambassador to the UN, criticized the US for allegedly inciting violence during the protests. Darzi accused Washington of using a “hollow pretext of concern for the Iranian people” to justify its actions, claiming it is attempting to destabilize Iran under the guise of humanitarian support.
Heavy security crackdown and casualties
As reports from Iran indicate a significant reduction in protest activities, with eyewitness accounts noting the absence of fires and debris in the streets, the situation remains grim. The Iranian government’s crackdown has reportedly resulted in at least 2,677 fatalities, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, marking the deadliest wave of anti-government protests since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Some insiders suggest that the actual death toll could be as high as 15,000 over the past 21 days.
In response to the violence, Washington announced new sanctions targeting Iranian officials implicated in the suppression of protests, which erupted in late December due to economic turmoil and the collapse of the rial. Among those sanctioned is the Secretary of Iran’s Supreme Council for National Security, identified by the US Treasury Department as a key figure in inciting violence against demonstrators.
Additionally, the G7 nations and the European Union have indicated they are contemplating further sanctions aimed at intensifying pressure on the Iranian regime. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen remarked that the 27-member bloc aims to reinforce sanctions “to push forward that this regime comes to an end and that there is change.”