The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has condemned the violence and excessive use of force against protesters in Iran. In a statement on social media platform X, Guterres expressed concern over reports coming out of Iran and urged the government to show restraint and avoid the unnecessary or disproportionate use of force. According to the Iranian Human Rights Organization, at least 490 protesters and 48 security personnel have been killed in the ongoing violent protests in Iran.
Guterres has called on the Iranian authorities to restore communication with his country, which has been blocked for four days. The Iranian Human Rights Organization had earlier reported that at least 490 protesters and 48 security personnel have been killed in the ongoing violent protests in Iran. The HRAN has also reported that over 10,600 people have been arrested in the two weeks of protests.
The Qatar-based Al Jazeera news network reported that the protests have spread to various parts of the country, including the capital city of Tehran. In a statement, China said that pressure or coercion cannot resolve the issues and the US should reconsider its stance. India’s foreign ministry has confirmed that Commander Purnendu Tiwari, a former Indian Navy officer, has been arrested in Qatar for the second time.
The UAE has announced that it is suspending all agreements with Somalia. The US Embassy has advised American citizens to leave Iran as soon as possible, warning them that the internet and other communication services are blocked.
In a separate development, the Hamas movement has instructed its leaders to hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to the Palestinian Authority. The Indian government has confirmed that a high-level Taliban delegation, led by Mawlawi Abdul Hakim Haqqani, visited Delhi recently.
The UN Secretary-General has also expressed concern over the escalating tensions between the US and Iran, and has called on both countries to exercise restraint and avoid any actions that could escalate the situation further.
In a separate development, the UAE has announced that it is suspending all agreements with Somalia. The Indian government has confirmed that a high-level Taliban delegation, led by Mawlawi Abdul Hakim Haqqani, visited Delhi recently.
In the sports world, India’s cricket team has announced that its wicket-keeper batsman, Rishabh Pant, will retire from all formats of the game after the upcoming series against Australia.
In international news, the UN has called on all parties involved in the conflict in Ukraine to engage in a dialogue to find a lasting solution to the crisis.
