Tehran accuses “Zionist entity,” US of fueling unrest; Guterres rejects external interference

TEHRAN, Jan. 16 (YPA) – The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed on Thursday details of a phone call between Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and UN Secretary-General António Guterres, discussing the latest security developments and protests in the country.

Araghchi stated that while protests began peacefully, they shifted after the infiltration of “terrorist elements.” He claimed there is evidence of a “direct role by the Zionist entity” in arming and organizing these militants, with backing from the United States to destabilize Iran’s national security.

According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Secretary-General António Guterres reaffirmed the UN’s core principles, expressing his “rejection of any interference in the internal affairs of states.”

Guterres emphasized the necessity of prohibiting the use or threat of force in international disputes, highlighting the importance of protecting national sovereignty and stability in accordance with the UN Charter.

This high-level communication underscores Tehran’s efforts to frame the ongoing unrest as an externally driven security threat rather than a purely domestic crisis.

YPA