Iran

As a wave of mass protests erupted across Iran in late 2025 and continued into January 2026, the Islamic Republic government’s handling of the unrest — and its efforts to shape global narratives around foreign interference — has become a central issue in Western diplomatic circles. Iranian authorities, facing one of the most sustained and lethal protest movements in decades, have repeatedly accused the United States and Israel of fomenting unrest — a narrative peddled in domestic media and at international forums like the United Nations. During an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council convened in mid-January at the request of the United States, Tehran blasted Washington for inciting violence and spreading disinformation about the protests. At the same time, Russia and China joined Iran in decrying what they termed Western interference in Iran’s internal affairs — arguing that external criticism and diplomatic pressure undermine sovereignty and violate international norms. ...