US censured at UNSC over Iran meeting Zarif: Another US ‘blunder’
AUnited Nations Security Council meeting on Friday to discuss the protests in Iran turned into criticism of the United States for requesting to meet on what some member states said was an internal issue.
Russia’s UN envoy said the US is trying to bend the UN Security Council mandate, which does not deal with countries’ internal affairs, by calling a meeting with the demand to support protest in Iran.
“We obviously regret the loss of lives as a result of the demonstrations that were not so peaceful. However, let Iran deal with its own problems, especially since this is precisely what’s taking place,” Vassily Nebenzia said.
He slammed the US for diverting attention from important international issues the UNSC should be addressing.
“You are dispersing the energy of the Security Council, instead of focusing it on dealing with key crisis situations in Afghanistan, Syria Libya, Iraq, Yemen, North Korea, and the African continent. Instead of that, you are proposing that we interfere in the internal affairs of a state.”
“We don’t want to get involved in destabilizing Iran or any other country.”
He also reminded Washington of its own history of cracking down on protests.
“If we follow your logic, then we should have meetings of the Security Council after the events in Ferguson or after the dispersal by force of the Occupy Wall Street movement in Manhattan.”
In her opening speech, US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley dubbed the unrest in Iran a “spontaneous expression of fundamental human rights,” claiming the protests were simultaneously playing out in “over 78 locations.”
“The US stands unapologetically with those in Iran who seek freedom for themselves, prosperity for their families and dignity for their nation. We will not be quiet,” Haley said, dismissing any attempts to paint the protesters as “puppets of foreign powers.”
Attempt to disrupt Iran nuclear deal
The call to support anti-government protesters is another attempt to dismantle the hard-won international nuclear deal struck in 2015, Nebenzia argued.
“The real reason for convening today’s meeting is not an attempt to protect human rights or promote the interests of the Iranian people, but rather a veiled attempt to seize the current moment to continue to undermine the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). We consider it unacceptable to intentionally undermine the support of the international community.”