KABUL: Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, has expressed deep concern regarding the deaths and injuries of protesters in Iran.
The statement was made by Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the Secretary-General, during a recent press briefing.
Mr. Dujarric emphasized the need to prevent further escalation of violence and called on the Iranian government to respect the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. He stated that all citizens of a country should have the right to express their dissatisfaction.
However, senior Iranian officials have remarked that Iranian protesters fall into two categories: market activists and rioters.
Ali Khamenei, Iran’s leader, recently asserted that the government believes in the right to protest and feels obligated to engage in dialogue with demonstrators. However, he cautioned that some individuals use protests as a pretext to create chaos in Iran and must be dealt with appropriately.