Iran summoned the German ambassador and British charge d'affaires on Wednesday over their countries' role in drafting a resolution at the UN Human Rights Council to extend the mandate of a fact-finding mission on Iran's human rights record.
The Director-General for Women and Human Rights at Iran's Foreign Ministry, Forouzandeh Vadiati, described the move as provocative and irresponsible.
During the meeting with the German ambassador, Vadiati condemned the "instrumental use of the Human Rights Council and the abuse of human rights" to pressure Iran, citing Germany's past provision of chemical weapons to Saddam Hussein’s government during the Iran-Iraq war.
In the meeting with the British charge d'affaires, coinciding with the anniversary of Iran's nationalization of its oil industry, Vadiati criticized what she called Britain's long history of interventionist policies in Iran's internal affairs and its anti-Iranian position at the Human Rights Council.
Vadiati also accused Germany and Britain of aligning with US sanctions against Iran.
Tehran’s diplomatic protest comes as the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Iran, Mai Sato, warned the UN Human Rights Council of Iran's increasing use of executions to suppress dissent.
Sato's report highlighted a surge in executions, with at least 169 recorded in January and February alone, raising concerns that the total could exceed 1,000 this year.
The report also detailed ongoing discrimination against religious and ethnic minorities, lack of transparency in human rights cases, and continued crackdowns on protests.
The UN Human Rights Office has previously accused Iran of "weaponizing" criminal proceedings and the death penalty to punish protesters and stifle dissent.
Its Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Iran has also documented widespread human rights violations, including torture and sexual violence in prisons, which they say constitute crimes against humanity.
While countries like Germany, Switzerland, and others called on Iran to end executions and repression, Iran's allies, including Venezuela, North Korea, and China, dismissed the UN fact-finding mission as politically motivated and defended Iran's human rights record.
“Nowruz is a joyous occasion for the Persian people, marking the beginning of spring, and the Persian New Year. This long-standing tradition presents a time to reflect on the blessings of the previous year and prepare for the coming spring with a renewed spirit of optimism,” he said in a message published by the White House on Wednesday.
The US has one of the largest expatriate population of Iranians abroad with numbers estimated to be around 620,000 in California alone, according to the Harris Poll and UCLA research.
Research from the United Nations Population Division in 2019 found that the US is the most popular destination for Iranians living abroad.
In his message, he highlighted the contributions of Iranians to various fields, saying, “The Persian people with their vibrant culture and exceptional talents in fields such as math, science, law, technology, and the arts, make many integral contributions to society.”
Trump’s statement comes amid a renewed policy of maximum pressure on Iran, including tough economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation.
A letter he sent to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, seemingly set conditions for de-escalation, calling for Tehran to dismantle its nuclear program, impose strict limits on missile development, and halt support for regional armed groups.
While Trump has voiced a preference for diplomatic means with Iran, he has not ruled out military options, while Khamenei has banned talks with the US under the current conditions.