Merve Aydogan
16 January 2026•Update: 16 January 2026
HAMILTON, Canada
A senior UN official on Thursday warned that growing rhetoric about possible military action against Iran risks inflaming an already volatile situation as nationwide protests continue in that country.
"For nearly three weeks, popular protests in the Islamic Republic of Iran have rapidly evolved into nationwide upheaval, resulting in significant loss of life," said Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, assistant secretary-general for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, during an emergency session of the Security Council on Iran.
Pobee reiterating Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' "deep concern over the reported excessive use of force in Iran and stressed the urgent need to prevent further casualties."
"Human-rights monitors report mass arrests in Iran in connection with the current wave of protests, with estimates exceeding 18,000 detainees as of mid-January 2026, although the UN cannot verify these figures," said Pobee.
She stressed that "the situation in Iran is fluid and deeply concerning," adding that "protests continue, albeit reportedly at a smaller scale than last week."
"We note with alarm various public statements suggesting possible military strikes on Iran," Pobee said, emphasizing that "this external dimension adds volatility to an already combustible situation."
"All efforts must be undertaken to prevent any further deterioration," she said.
Pobee said the UN chief "reaffirms the principles of the Charter, including the obligation of member states to settle disputes by peaceful means and the prohibition of the threat or use of force in international relations."
"These principles are not body_abstract ideals -- they are the bedrock of international peace and security. They remain as relevant today as they were when the United Nations was founded," she said.
The emergency session comes amid heightened regional tensions over a possible US strike against Iran.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly vowed to back protesters in Iran, where anti-government protests have swept the country since last month.
Iranian officials have accused the US and Israel of backing "riots" and "terrorism" in the protests.
Authorities have not released official figures on casualties or detainees. The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), a US-based group, estimates that more than 2,600 people have been killed, including protesters and security personnel.
