U.N. Chief Says He Is ‘Shocked’ by Deadly Crackdown on Protests in Iran, Calls for Restraint and Restored Communications

By: ATN News Team

UNHQ, New York: U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said Sunday he was deeply troubled by reports of violent crackdowns on protesters across Iran, with “scores of deaths” and many more people injured in recent days.

In a statement released through his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, Guterres said Iranians must be able to voice their grievances peacefully and without fear. He stressed that basic freedoms — including freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly — must be protected as required under international law.

The statement called on Iranian authorities to exercise “maximum restraint” and avoid the unnecessary or disproportionate use of force against demonstrators.

It also raised concern over reports of internet shutdowns and communications disruptions, urging Iranian authorities to take steps to restore access to information. U.N. officials say communication blackouts not only restrict civil liberties but also make it harder to verify what is happening on the ground.

The language of the statement reflects growing alarm inside the U.N. Secretariat as unrest appears to be spreading, and reports of lethal force continue to surface. While the statement did not list specific cities or casualty figures, its tone was notably more direct than in many previous interventions.

The Secretary-General avoided calls for outside intervention, sticking to the U.N.’s traditional approach: defending universal rights while urging restraint. Still, the message was clear.

By acknowledging deaths linked to state violence and underlining the right of Iranians to protest without fear, Guterres signaled that the situation has crossed a serious threshold of concern for the United Nations.

The statement adds to rising international pressure on Tehran to curb violence, respect civil liberties and restore communications as the unrest continues.