United Nations, 16 January (H.S.): The United States delivered a stark warning to Iran at the UN Security Council on Thursday, affirming that all options remain on the table to halt the regime's deadly suppression of nationwide demonstrations, as President Donald Trump simultaneously signaled potential de-escalation.
U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz opened the emergency session—convened at Washington's request—with a pointed declaration that Trump, a man of action, would not tolerate endless deliberation while Iranian authorities faced accusations of killing at least 2,637 protesters since late last month.
Joined by prominent dissidents Masih Alinejad and Ahmad Batebi, Waltz highlighted Tehran's atrocities, including Alinejad's direct confrontation of the Iranian envoy over three assassination attempts on U.S. soil, the last thwarted when two Russian-linked hitmen received 25-year sentences in October.
Alinejad recounted spotting her would-be assassin outside her Brooklyn home, while Batebi graphically described Iranian prison guards inflicting deep wounds before applying salt, offering to display his scars to skeptical council members.
Both implored global action and urged Trump not to abandon demonstrators he had encouraged, amid Iran's ongoing internet blackout smothering the protests sparked by economic collapse and currency devaluation.
The session preceded Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's call with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, where Tehran decried illegal U.S. interventions per state media. The U.S. simultaneously imposed fresh sanctions on protest-suppressing officials, joined by G7 nations and the EU considering parallel measures, even as Trump on Wednesday noted reports of halted killings, contributing to Thursday's four percent oil price slump.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
