Divided UN Security Council meets over Iran
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UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council headed divided into an emergency meeting Friday to discuss the deadly wave of protests in Iran, as the Tehran regime sought to put the unrest to bed.
US Ambassador Nikki Haley -- whose country sought the talks -- has argued that the week of demonstrations -- against the government and now for it -- could escalate into full-blown conflict, drawing a comparison with Syria.
"The Iranian regime is now on notice: the world will be watching what you do," Haley warned the Security Council meeting.
Russia has strongly criticized the US push for Iran to be discussed at the UN´s top body, arguing the protests pose no threat to international peace and security.
But Moscow stopped short of seeking to block the meeting.
A total of 21 people have died and hundreds have been arrested since December 28 as protests over economic woes turned against the regime as a whole, with attacks on government buildings and police stations.
Pro-regime rallies were held around Tehran Friday for the third day running with authorities seeking to put a lid on the violence.
Iranian officials have blamed a plot by the CIA, Israel and Saudi Arabia for the unrest that convulsed much of the country for five days -- part of the increasing tensions playing out between Iran and its neighbors since President Donald Trump came to power.
The United States has meanwhile piled pressure on Iran, with Trump pledging to help Iranians "take back" their government.
The Security Council meeting also came as Washington imposed unilateral sanctions on five Iranian companies linked to Tehran´s ballistic missile program.
"The Iranian people are rising up in over 79 locations throughout the country," Haley told the council.
"It is a powerful exhibition of brave people who have become so fed up with their oppressive government that they are willing to risk their lives in protest."
