BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 15. Iran is
fulfilling its duty to protect its citizens, public order, and
national security, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi
said in his letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres,
Trend reports.


According to him, the Iranian government understands its human
rights obligations to its citizens regarding the right to organize
peaceful protests and assemblies and has taken all necessary steps
to exercise maximum restraint in dealing with instability.


Araghchi highlighted that peaceful protests, initially sparked
by economic concerns, began in Iran on December 28. However,
between January 8 and 10, these demonstrations were hijacked by
terrorist elements, transforming peaceful protests into violent
riots. These disturbances resulted in numerous heinous acts against
both citizens and state officials. A significant number of
ambulances, fire trucks, medical centers, residential areas, and
religious facilities were set ablaze.


The minister further stated that a substantial number of law
enforcement officers enforcing the rule of law were either killed
or wounded during the unrest. This tragic toll underscores, on one
hand, the officers' restraint, and on the other, the extreme
violence perpetuated by terrorist forces.


"The provocative rhetoric of both former and current U.S.
officials concerning the protests in Iran constitutes a clear
violation of the UN Charter and international law," he said.
"Deliberately endangering the lives of Iranian citizens to further
political aims, using peaceful protests as a vehicle, is a blatant
infringement on human rights."


The minister concluded by noting that the massive participation
of Iranian citizens in the pro-government march on January 12
served as a testament to their commitment to national unity and the
preservation of law and order.


The protests, which erupted in late December, were primarily
triggered by the sharp depreciation of the national currency,
escalating inflation, and various other economic hardships. While
casualty reports have been circulating, the exact figures remain
undisclosed.


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