Iran urged to debate protesters’ concerns

Boris Johnson calls for end to violence amid protests that have left 20 dead

Boris Johnson has called for Iran to engage in “meaningful debate” about the “legitimate and important” issues raised by protesters as several people were killed amid ongoing unrest in the Middle Eastern country.

The foreign secretary, who visited Tehran last month, had earlier said he was “watching events with concern”.

The demonstrations, which began on Thursday over Iran’s weak economy and a jump in food prices, appear to be the largest to strike the Islamic republic since 2009.

Iranian state television said nine people were killed during clashes on Monday night, while 10 were killed on Sunday night and two died on Saturday.

A police officer is also reported to have died.

In a Facebook post, Mr Johnson said the UK was “watching events in Iran closely”.

He said: “We believe that there should be meaningful debate about the legitimate and important issues the protesters are raising and we look to the Iranian authorities to permit this.

“We also believe that, particularly as we enter the 70th anniversary year of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, people should be able to have freedom of expression and to demonstrate peacefully within the law.

“We regret the loss of life that has occurred in the protests in Iran, and call on all concerned to refrain from violence and for international obligations on human rights to be observed.”

The protests were fanned in part by messages sent on the Telegram messaging app, which authorities blocked on Sunday along with Instagram.

The protesters have been warned they will be met with an “iron fist” by a senior officer in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.

Brigadier-General Esmail Kowsari reportedly told the ISNA news agency: “If people came into the streets over high prices, they should not have chanted those slogans and burned public property and cars.”

“We regret the loss of life that has occurred in the protests in Iran, and call on all concerned to refrain from violence

Picture: Getty. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivering a speech yesterday.

Picture: PA. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is said to be troubled by the unfolding events.