Hostile External Forces Trying to Overthrow Iranian Government; Russia

RUSSIA – Russia on Thursday accused the US and its allies of exploiting Iran’s national protests and acting as hostile external forces aimed at fueling instability in order to overthrow the Iranian government, to advance Washington’s own political agenda.

“We see that hostile external forces are attempting to exploit the current situation in order to overthrow a government they find objectionable and destroy the Islamic Republic of Iran as a sovereign and independent state,” Russia’s UN envoy Vassily Nebenzia said at an emergency session of the Security Council on Iran.

Criticizing the briefers invited to the session by the US mission, Nebenzia said the “so-called briefers cannot speak on behalf of the Iranian people.”

“We firmly reject any attempts by the US to waste the Council members’ valuable time on briefings that are meant only to serve the interests and the position of those who convened this meeting and briefings that are in no way related to issues of international peace and security,” he said, calling the remarks by thr briefers “nothing more than a circus, an embarrassment, a cheap show that is unbefitting of members of the Council.”

While stressing sympathy for those affected by the unrest, Nebenzia warned that the protests were being deliberately manipulated from abroad.

“What is happening in Iran is yet another example of the use of tried and tested methods for a color revolution in which specially trained, armed provocateurs transform peaceful protests into senseless violence, riots, destruction of public property and brutal killings of police officers, state security personnel and peaceful detectives, including children,” he said.

Accusing Washington of openly encouraging the actions, Nebenzia said, “In the present situation, these external forces are not even bothering to conceal their involvement in violent actions, especially given that the President of the US (Donald Trump) has openly called on protesters to take over Iranian state institutions.”

“The US and its cheerleaders are actively exploiting the economic and social difficulties faced by ordinary Iranians, difficulties caused by unlawful sanctions and pressure imposed on Iran by Western states,” he added.

Warning that Washington’s approach carries serious risks, Nebenzia said, “What is most concerning is Washington’s aggressive course towards the use of military force and threats of its use against Iran,” condemning the actions as violations of international law.

“We strongly urge the hotheads in Washington and other capitals who seem to be contemplating a repeat military venture to come to their senses and avoid a repetition of the tragedy of June 2025, when US-Israeli aggression nearly resulted in a major nuclear catastrophe with inevitable humanitarian and environmental consequences,” he said.

Nebenzia demanded that the US and “its like-minded partners refrain from further reckless steps, including those involving nuclear facilities.”

Iran Says Seeks Neither Escalation nor Confrontation

Iran’s deputy UN envoy on Thursday warned the United States against any aggressive actions, emphasizing that it seeks neither escalation nor confrontation as tensions over recent unrest in the country continue.

Criticizing Washington’s position against Iran, Gholamhossein Darzi, at an emergency session of the UN Security Council, said that “it is shameful that the US regime transferred this esteemed body to a scene for theater and show for baseless accusation and a statement that is in line with the United States regime in dismantling and disgracing the United Nations system.”

Accusing the US of misrepresenting the situation to hide its involvement, Darzi said, “It is deeply regrettable that the representative of the US regime, who requested this meeting, has today resorted to lies, distortion of facts and deliberate misinformation to conceal his country’s direct involvement in steering unrest in Iran to violence.”

He described the protests, which began Dec. 28, as initially peaceful, but argued that they were “deliberately hijacked by organized armed groups and transformed into violent riots.”

Darzi further criticized Washington for attempting to use the unrest as a pretext for intervention, calling the US request for the meeting “shameful to conceal their direct complicity in the crime their missionaries have committed against our nations from 8 to 10 January as part of Israel’s malicious attempt to drag America into another war of aggression against Iran.”

“Any threat to use of force against the Islamic Republic of Iran under any pretext, including claims of protecting prosecutors or supporting the Iranian people constitute a grave and manifest violation of international law and the UN Charter,” he warned.

Darzi further emphasized Iran’s position and said, “Iran seeks neither escalation nor confrontation, however, any act of aggression, direct or indirect, will be met with a decisive, proportionate and lawful response … This is not a threat.”

“It is a statement of legal reality. Responsibility for all consequences will rest solely with those who initiate such unlawful act,” he added.