The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has congratulated Iran on the anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution, according to Iranian state media.
In a letter addressed to President Masoud Pezeshkian, as reported by Iranian news agency IRNA, Guterres extended congratulations on the regime’s National Day, which marks the anniversary of the 1979 establishment of the Islamic Republic.
It is not known whether Guterres mentioned the brutal crackdown on anti-regime protesters in recent weeks.
The UN chief reportedly described national days as important opportunities to reflect on a “country’s path, its role and contributions within the international community, and the ideals that shape its future.”
The UN chief was said to have noted that such anniversaries also serve as reminders of the importance of dialogue and solidarity in confronting global challenges
According to IRNA, Guterres listed ending wars, preventing new conflicts, tackling the climate crisis, reducing inequalities and ensuring the responsible governance of powerful technologies as urgent tests facing the global community.
Guterres reportedly added that meeting the challenges, “requires renewed engagement and commitment to multilateral cooperation to advance peace and security, achieve sustainable development goals, and uphold human rights”.
Monitoring group UN Watch called on Guterres to release the full text of his alleged letter, saying “the world deserves transparency” on the matter.
UN Watch said that if reports of the letter were authentic, “we urge you to explain how congratulating a regime responsible for ongoing massacres serves the cause of peace and justice”.
Speaking to reporters, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the letter is a standard one that “goes out to every member state on their national holiday”, a tradition that goes back “decades”.
He said “each member state gets the exact same letter. It should not be interpreted by anyone who receives it as an endorsement of whatever policies may be going, the government may be putting in place.” He said the same letter went out on the same day to Gambia and Lithuania.
Also announced this week, a representative of the Islamic regime of Iran was selected as vice-chair of the UN Commission for Social Development, a body which seeks among other things to promote inclusive societies, reduce discrimination and promote tolerance.
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