United Nations, United States: At Washington´s request, the UN SecurityCouncil will hold an emergency meeting Friday to discuss the wave ofprotests in Iran.

US Ambassador Nikki Haley warned ahead of the meeting that thedemonstrations could escalate into full-blown conflict, drawing acomparison with Syria.

“The world has witnessed the horrors that have taken place in Syria, thatbegan with a murderous regime denying its people´s right to peacefullyprotest,” Haley said in a statement late Thursday.

“We must not let that happen in Iran.”

A total of 21 people have died and hundreds have been arrested sinceDecember 28 as protests over economic woes turned against the regime as awhole, with attacks on government buildings and police stations.

The United States formally requested the meeting on Thursday, but Russiaand some of the other council members are not convinced that the top UNbody should discuss the unrest in Iran, diplomats said.

Russia has criticized the US push for Iran to be discussed at the SecurityCouncil and accused Washington of interfering in Iran´s domestic affairsafter President Donald Trump backed the anti-government protests.

Diplomats said they expected Russia to request a procedural vote at thestart of the meeting to decide whether the situation in Iran should be onthe council agenda.

For a new agenda item to be discussed at the Security Council, at leastnine of the 15 council members must support holding the meeting. No vetoesapply.

“This is a matter of fundamental human rights for the Iranian people, butit is also a matter of international peace and security,” said Haley.

“It will be telling if any country tries to deny the Security Council fromeven having this discussion, just as the Iranian regime tries to deny itsown people the ability to have their voices heard.”