The UN Security Council at the moment does not plan to hold meetings on the situation in Iran, where protest actions are held. This was stated on Tuesday by the Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the United Nations Kairat Umarov, presenting the work program of the Security Council in January under the chairmanship of Astana.
“Iran is not on the agenda of the Security Council, but if any member [of the Security Council] wants to raise this issue and discuss it, of course, we will be ready to work on this, depending on what the Security Council will agree on. this is all I can tell you,” the diplomat said.
Earlier Tuesday, US Ambassador Nikki Haley said that Washington will initiate discussions on the situation in Iran at the UN headquarters in New York and at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in the coming days.
At the same time, she did not specify whether it was a question of convening an emergency meeting of the Security Council or the discussion would take place in a different format.
According to Kairat Umarov, Haley already discussed with him the possibility of organizing a meeting of the Security Council. “Any country has the right to offer anything,” the diplomat confirmed, adding that he does not know when the US would like to hold such a meeting.
At the same time, Kazakhstan’s permanent representative avoided answering the question whether they see in Astana any need to convene a meeting on Iran. “It’s hard to say now, I think we need to follow the developments, I do not think that this is comparable to the events of 2009. When we held large demonstrations, let’s wait and see. As chairmen of the Security Council, we will be ready to hold any meeting, if such a request is agreed upon,” Umarov said.
– In Astana, Iranians are called for restraint –
Protest actions began in Iran on December 28. Participants in demonstrations in different cities expressed dissatisfaction with the rise in prices. As a result of the clashes with the police, at least 20 people were killed, including law enforcement officers. According to the Iranian authorities, more than 450 people were arrested for participation in the riots.
According to Kairat Umarov, in Astana they “closely monitor” the situation in the neighboring country and urge all the Iranian sides to show restraint and find a peaceful way out of the situation. “We hope that all parties will refrain from violence,” said Kazakhstan’s permanent representative, urging the authorities in Tehran “to find a common language with the protesters.”