Iran's President Pezeshkian faces backlash over UN claims regarding domestic protests

During a speech at the United Nations General Assembly, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian characterized Iran as a victim of international bullying. He attributed recent domestic unrest and mass casualties to terrorist elements and Mossad agents, describing the protests as an attempted coup.

However, these claims are being directly challenged by the families of victims. Relatives of those killed during January's protests have released videos contradicting the government's narrative. One notable case involves the father of Sepehr Shokri, who was killed by a military projectile in eastern Tehran; his previous accounts of searching for his son among the dead stand in contrast to the official state version of events.

Critics note that the President's address omitted discussions regarding Iran's history of supporting regional proxies—such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis—as well as the government's handling of the ‘Women, Life, Freedom’ movement and its nuclear enrichment activities.