Iran said the United States “has crossed every limit” in international relations by expressing support for the country’s anti-government protesters and said president Donald Trump’s “absurd tweets” have encouraged disruption.
In a letter to UN officials, Iranian Ambassador Gholamali Khoshroo complained that Washington was intervening “in a grotesque way in Iran’s internal affairs”.
He added Mr Trump and Vice President Mike Pence were personally stirring up trouble.
“The President and Vice-President of the United States, in their numerous absurd tweets, incited Iranians to engage in disruptive acts,” the ambassador wrote to the UN Security Council president and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Such respect for the people of Iran as they try to take back their corrupt government. You will see great support from the United States at the appropriate time!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2018
The US did not immediately respond to the letter, which maintains that Washington “has crossed every limit in flouting rules and principles of international law governing the civilised conduct of international relations”.
At least 21 people have been killed and hundreds arrested in Iran during a week of anti-government protests and unrest over economic woes and official corruption.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people took part in counter-demonstrations on Wednesday backing the clerically overseen government, which has said “enemies of Iran” are fomenting the protests.
The people of Iran are finally acting against the brutal and corrupt Iranian regime. All of the money that President Obama so foolishly gave them went into terrorism and into their “pockets.” The people have little food, big inflation and no human rights. The U.S. is watching!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018
Mr Trump has unleashed a series of tweets in recent days backing the protesters, saying Iran is “failing at every level” and declaring that it is “time for change” in the Islamic Republic.
“Such respect for the people of Iran as they try to take back their corrupt government,” he tweeted on Wednesday. “You will see great support from the United States at the appropriate time!”
Mr Trump’s UN envoy, Ambassador Nikki Haley, called on Tuesday for an emergency Security Council meeting on Iran, saying the UN needed to speak out in support of the protesters.
RT @USUN: “It takes great bravery for the Iranian people to use the power of their voice against their government, especially when that government has a long history of murdering its own people who dare to speak the truth… All freedom-loving people must stand with their cause.” pic.twitter.com/nRL2z4CuP6
— Nikki Haley (@nikkihaley) January 2, 2018
As yet, no meeting has been scheduled.
Mr Guterres is following the developments in Iran with concern, deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said earlier on Wednesday.
He said the secretary-general urged respect for free-expression rights and stressed that any demonstrations should be peaceful.