UN chief Guterres slammed for ignoring Iranian regime executions in talk with President Pezeshkian
The UN’s official readout of the meeting said Guterres and Pezeshkian discussed the humanitarian and economic consequences of the conflict between Iran and the US.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres faced criticism for omitting Iran's executions of protesters and torture allegations during his meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian earlier this week. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and Shanghai Plus summits in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
According to Iranian state media, Pezeshkian criticized the United States' attack on Iran and the regime's targeting of its infrastructure. He also expressed concern over the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. However, the UN's official readout of the meeting did not mention the executions, torture allegations, or detained protesters.
A UN spokesperson stated that Guterres had raised the issue with Iranian officials before but that it was not discussed during this particular meeting. The spokesperson also affirmed that the UN condemned the death penalty in Iran. Human rights groups estimate that over 30,000 protesters were killed by Iran's security forces following January's protests, although the exact number is difficult to ascertain due to mass disappearances and an internet lockdown.
Guterres tweeted that the conflicts in the Middle East have had far-reaching effects and called for restraint and respect for international law. UN Watch director Hillel Neuer criticized Guterres for failing to address the regime's massacre of tens of thousands of civilian protesters during the meeting.
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