Speaker: Iran Seeking Justice for Victims of Violent Unrest in Global Courts
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf stated Tehran will establish legal procedures and seriously seek justice for the victims of the recent unrest in international forums and courts and within the country.
“These crimes must be documented and their perpetrators held accountable,” the parliament speaker said in an interview with CNN published on Thursday.He expressed his deep sorrow at the “bitter” incidents which he said led to the killing of more than 2,500 individuals, noting that pursuing accountability for the tragedy is an “absolute duty.”Qalibaf described the Iranian nation as a victim of terrorism.He emphasized that the riots were an outcome of the direct involvement and a plot hatched by foreign enemies, noting even relevant agents have admitted their responsibility in the terrorist incidents.The parliamentarian added that some 300 police forces were killed in the armed attacks in just two days which was the result of an “organized and directed action from outside the country and a behavior with a terrorist and Daesh-like pattern” with the purpose of creating a "quasi- coup" through terrorist acts.
Violent rioters attacked the administrative buildings, police and bus stations and mosques in a number of cities across Iran in early January, killing some ordinary people and security forces and inflicting injuries on others.Authorities say evidence shows foreign-backed terror groups distributed weapons, deliberately targeted civilians and security forces, and acted with the direct involvement of the United States and Israel.Tehran has stressed that recent violent events in the country represented a continuation of failed plots by Washington and the Zionist regime following the 12-day war, stressing that such endeavours have once again been thwarted by the Iranian nation.Tehran has also announced that hundreds of key operatives and ringleaders involved in the recent foreign-backed unrest in the country have been captured in the course of several operations. Iran’s Security Council also released a report on the recent violent riots across the country, confirming that more than 2,400 people, including civilians and security personnel, were martyred. It added that 690 other individuals were also killed during the riots.
Elsewhere in his interview, Qalibaf said Tehran does not oppose the principle of dialogue and diplomacy, which must be genuine and balanced, based on mutual respect and backed by guarantees.Negotiations under the shadow of war fuels tensions and insecurity, he added, expressing Iran’s readiness for sincere talks in accordance with international rules and regulations.He emphasized that US President Donald Trump has so far proved that he seeks to impose his own political views through the threat of war.Qalibaf also referred to the US onslaught against Iran in June 2025, saying it took place just two days before the sixth round of indirect talks between Washington and Tehran.“As long as there are no guarantees for the rights of the Iranian nation, [as long as] the economic interests and benefits of the Iranian nation are not secured, and [as long as] the dignity of the Iranian nation is not respected, naturally there can be no talk of negotiations because we do not consider dictation, imposition, or surrender as negotiation,” the top parliamentarian pointed out.He added Trump must take measures toward achieving "real peace” if he truly seeks one and claims to deserve the Nobel Peace Prize.
Qalibaf was reacting to threats made by Trump and the recent deployment of American military forces to West Asia.Iran has warned of a "regret-inducing" response to any onslaught by the United States.Iran had held five rounds of talks on a replacement for the 2015 nuclear agreement before the US-Israeli airstrikes on the country and its nuclear facilities in mid-June.Mediated by Oman, the 6th round of talks was planned to be held in Muscat, but was called off due to the Israeli raids.The US and its European allies have repeatedly called for any future agreement to address not only Iran’s nuclear activities but also its ballistic missile program. Tehran has consistently dismissed that demand, insisting its military power is non-negotiable.The European trio in late August invoked the “snapback” mechanism to restore United Nations sanctions, further complicating diplomacy to resolve tensions.Tehran insists its nuclear programme has strictly civilian purposes and it has the right to carry out the enrichment of uranium. The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei has even issued a fatwa (religious decree) declaring that the acquisition, development, and use of nuclear weapons violate Islamic principles and are therefore forbidden.Tehran has also reiterated that it will not negotiate over its missile and military might.
14:25 - 9 بهمن 1404