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By Golamreza Mahdavi Raja
In recent days, Iran has witnessed a rise in unrest and protests in several cities, primarily driven by economic grievances and public dissatisfaction with living conditions. Expressing such demands through lawful and peaceful means is a legitimate right of citizens. However, developments on the ground indicate that, in some cases, these protests were diverted from their original path and escalated into unrest shaped by hidden agendas and foreign interference. This article seeks to examine these developments and shed light on the role of external actors.
Respect for fundamental rights and freedoms, particularly freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly, has consistently been emphasized by the Islamic Republic of Iran and is enshrined in its Constitution and domestic laws. These rights provide a framework for expressing legitimate demands and encourage active civic participation, contributing to social cohesion and public trust.
The Iranian government has undertaken economic support measures, strengthened social welfare mechanisms, expanded employment opportunities and implemented targeted reforms to ease economic pressures and restore calm. Emphasis on dialogue and engagement with the public reflects the belief that lasting stability can only be achieved through constructive communication and responsible policy.
Nevertheless, in recent days, interventions by certain hostile states, together with organized terrorist groups backed by them, have led to increased insecurity, violent clashes, unrest and the loss of lives. Evidence suggests that these actions were coordinated within Iranian territory, with the aim of transforming peaceful protests into violence and instability. The scale and intensity of such foreign-backed activities have grown in recent days, directly threatening public safety and social order.
Such threats and interventions, regardless of any political pretext or verbal framing, are absolutely prohibited under international law. Any attempt to provoke, encourage or legitimize internal unrest as a pretext for external pressure or military intervention constitutes a blatant violation of the sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and a clear breach of international law and the United Nations Charter. These actions contravene Articles 2(1), 4, and 7 of the UN Charter, as well as UN General Assembly Resolution 2625 of 1970. Furthermore, under international law, encouraging, supporting or facilitating subversive or violent activities within one country, even from another country’s territory, constitutes an international wrongful act and directly incurs responsibility for the interfering state.
Despite these efforts, the vigilance of security institutions and the active presence and support of the people effectively thwarted these so-called targeted and organized plots. The Iranian nation responded decisively, demonstrating unity, resilience and a strong commitment to preserving national security and stability.
The hostile policies, explicit threats, and interventionist actions of the United States and the Zionist regime have played a significant role in attempts to destabilize Iran’s internal environment. Through unilateral sanctions, political and security pressure, and support for destabilizing groups, these actors have pursued objectives that stand in clear contradiction to international law, norms, and treaties, while undermining regional and domestic stability.
•Golamreza Mahdavi Raja is Ambassador of Islamic Republic of Iran to Nigeria
