Trump warns Tehran at the UN
The United States has made it clear that military options remain on the table if Iran continues using deadly force against protesters. Speaking at an emergency UN Security Council session, US Ambassador Mike Waltz said President Donald Trump is prepared to act if the killings persist, emphasizing that the president is “a man of action, not endless talk.”
Waltz stressed that all options are being considered to stop the “slaughter” and that Iran’s leadership should take the warning seriously. While Trump suggested the violence may be easing, the US continues to keep pressure on Tehran.
Iran pushes back
Iran’s deputy ambassador to the UN, Hossein Darzi, accused the US of interfering in the country’s internal affairs. He claimed Washington was using the cover of human rights concerns to justify political destabilization and potential military intervention.
Darzi described US actions as an attempt to portray itself as a friend of the Iranian people while fueling unrest, a charge that came amid reports of a heavy security presence in major cities and an ongoing communications blackout.
Protests suppressed, death toll rises
Reports from Tehran indicate that the protests have slowed, with streets appearing calmer and gunfire decreasing. However, the human cost has been severe. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reports at least 2,677 deaths, with some insiders suggesting the true number may be as high as 15,000 over three weeks—the deadliest anti-government protests since Iran’s 1979 revolution.
In response, Washington announced new sanctions targeting Iranian officials involved in the crackdown, including the Secretary of Iran’s Supreme Council for National Security. The G7 and the EU have also indicated plans for additional sanctions, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stating the goal is to increase pressure on Tehran to bring about political change.
