Full Text of Remarks by the Minister of Foreign Affairs

at the Meeting with Heads of Foreign Diplomatic Missions and Representatives of International Organizations Resident in Tehran

Full Text of Remarks by the Minister of Foreign Affairs

at the Meeting with Heads of Foreign Diplomatic Missions and Representatives of International Organizations Resident in Tehran

Dr. Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, on Monday, 12 January 2026 (22 Dey 1404), addressed ambassadors, heads of foreign diplomatic missions, and representatives of international organizations resident in Tehran regarding recent developments. His remarks are as follows:

The purpose of convening this meeting is to brief you on what has transpired on the ground and in the streets of various Iranian cities, and to share with you our assessments and findings.

In a few weeks, we will commemorate the 47th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution, which demonstrates the arduous and eventful path that the Iranian nation has traversed in order to preserve its independence and dignity, while simultaneously resisting attempts by foreign powers to exert influence over Iran.

Beginning on 28 December, we witnessed certain protests, mainly among bazaar merchants, trade guilds, and economic actors. These were entirely peaceful demonstrations expressing grievances, which, under the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, constitute the legitimate right of every Iranian citizen to express protest in a peaceful manner. From 28 to 30 December, during the first phase, peaceful protests were held primarily within the bazaar and trade sectors, and the government immediately initiated dialogue with representatives of these groups.

We hope that no miscalculation will be made by other countries. What occurred during those three days we consider a continuation of the twelve-day war, in which an externally designed plan sought to create unrest inside Iran; however, the people stood firmly against it through unity and cohesion.

During those three days of peaceful protest—again, mainly among bazaar merchants and trade guilds—the government promptly began dialogue with their representatives. The President met with the heads of chambers of guilds and commerce, as well as a number of economic actors. Economic ministers also held meetings, listened to their demands, and designed and implemented certain economic measures and reforms. As the demonstrations were peaceful and aimed at expressing grievances, the guilds and economic actors articulated their concerns, the government listened, and in the first stage the protests began to subside, giving way to dialogue.

However, in the second phase, new elements entered the demonstrations. At this stage, the protests moved toward violence. Many countries, including Western states and the United States itself, have experienced similar situations. Our security forces acted with maximum restraint and sought to prevent violence. From 1 to 7 January, we faced such protests, accompanied by limited acts of violence, which from our perspective remained within tolerable bounds.

From 8 January onward, until 10 January, we witnessed the entry of terrorist elements, armed groups, and weapons into the protest scene. These weapons were distributed among demonstrators. It was entirely evident that a new plan had been devised to divert the protests from their original course and steer them toward violence, bloodshed, and chaos.

These armed elements opened fire on police and law-enforcement forces. We subsequently realized that they were firing not only at police officers, but also at ordinary civilians. Their sole objective was to increase the number of fatalities, particularly after the President of the United States announced that, should there be a confrontation with the people, he would attack Iran. This constitutes a blatant interference in the internal affairs of another country.

Accordingly, those seeking to create unrest pursued a strategy of increasing casualties in the hope of triggering U.S. intervention. We possess recorded audio evidence in which instructions are given: “Fire into the crowd; if you can hit the police, do so; if not, shoot ordinary civilians—the young woman or man in front of you. What matters is that the number of deaths increases and more blood is shed.”

We have extensive documentation indicating the involvement of the United States and Israel in these terrorist actions. Israeli media are replete with claims that they are designing operations inside Iran. The former Director of the CIA, Mike Pompeo, tweeted a New Year greeting to people in the streets and to Mossad agents alongside them. This is an explicit admission that Mossad agents who speak Persian are present in the streets of Iran. We are pursuing these matters seriously, and we consider those whose statements contributed to an increase in casualties to be responsible and accountable for their actions.

These are the same actors who ignored the killing of 70,000 human beings in Gaza, who failed to condemn U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, and who now shed crocodile tears for terrorists. We recognize the right of anyone in Iran to protest; however, no country tolerates riots, arson of public property, terrorism, or the shooting of civilians and security forces. I hope that countries which have adopted erroneous positions will pay attention to the realities on the ground.

According to the latest data, our people demand an end to these riots and support firm action against them. Only 30 percent of the population views these disturbances as stemming from economic problems, while over 70 percent consider them to have a foreign origin.

We will seek justice for the blood of our people through both international and domestic legal mechanisms. Security forces currently have full control of the situation, and we hope once again that no miscalculation will be made by other countries. We regard what occurred during those three days as a continuation of the twelve-day war, designed externally to drag unrest into Iran, but the people resisted through unity. This time, they attempted to initiate terrorist operations from within to pave the way for foreign intervention—another serious miscalculation. At present, security forces maintain full control in all cities.

Today, the people of Iran will rally around the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The temporary internet restrictions were implemented for the security of the Iranian people and of you as well. Our colleagues are in contact with security bodies, and efforts are underway to restore internet access for foreign embassies and return conditions to normal.

Iran is a great and powerful country, and it has always been so. Iran tolerates lawful, peaceful demonstrations, as you have observed. The government entered into dialogue, and certain reforms were implemented through this process. However, there are security considerations, which you also acknowledge, and which pose risks to you as well. Certain restrictions will therefore remain in place until we are assured that no threat exists.

Iran does not seek war, but it is fully prepared for war. We do not desire war, yet we are prepared for it—indeed, even more prepared than during the previous twelve-day war. The best way to prevent war is preparedness, so that adversaries do not fall into miscalculation. We are also prepared for negotiations—but negotiations that are fair, dignified, conducted from a position of equality, with mutual respect and based on mutual interests; negotiations that are serious and genuine, not ones involving orders or diktats, as is the practice of some countries.