US proposal for holding UNSC emergency meeting on Iran ‘destructive’: Russia

Russia has criticized as “harmful and destructive” a US proposal for holding an extraordinary meeting of the UN Security Council on recent protests in some Iranian cities.

“Iran's domestic affairs have nothing to do with the United Nations Security Council’s role” further said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov on Thursday, as quoted by Russia's RIA news agency, adding that Moscow “see no role” for the world body “in this issue.”

He also stressed that the UNSC must exert its efforts in maintaining “international peace and security”, which are its real roles in the world.

According to Press TV, Ryabkov’s comments came after US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said earlier this week that Washington was seeking emergency sessions to be held on Iran at the UN in New York and at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. “The UN must speak out,” she claimed at the time.

“We warn the US against attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Ryabkov further said, adding that the White House was tempted to exploit “the moment to raise new issues with regard to the JCPOA,” the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or the nuclear deal between Iran and the 5+1 group.

Last week, a number of peaceful protests over economic grievances started in several cities, but those gatherings suspiciously changed color and turned ugly when groups of participants, some of them armed, launched attacks on public property, police stations and religious sites.

The original protesters soon left the streets upon calls by the authorities so security forces could deal with the rioters and sporadic violence, which continued in some towns and cities for several days.

Taking a provocative and meddlesome stance, US President Donald Trump posted several tweets in defense of rioters, expressing his support for the protests in Iran. 

President of the UNSC Kairat Umarov, however, dismissed Haley’s call on Wednesday and said the 15-member body was not currently planning to hold an emergency meeting on Iran.

No foreign meddling in Iran’s internal affairs: Erdogan

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, prior to his trip to France, fully supported Iran’s stability and strongly rejected any foreign interference.

“Obviously some people from abroad are provoking this situation, and these provocations are not all right, this is an internal Iranian affair ... and people from abroad should not meddle in internal affairs,” the Turkish leader said.

He also said that his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani had assured him that the situation in Iran would stabilize in matter of just a few days, adding that foreigners were acting as provocateurs in Iran.

“I talked with Mr. Rouhani on the phone and... the situation will stabilize within a day or two, there's no need to be worried, that's what they told me,” Erdogan noted.

On Wednesday and Thursday, Iranians from all walks of life took to the streets in several cities to condemn the violence. The participants voiced support for the Islamic establishment  and shouted slogans against the US and the Israeli regime for backing the riots. People in Tehran will hold a rally following Friday prayers.

ME