UN Iran rapporteur urges authorities to respect rights to protest

Several prominent Iranian dissidents including renowned filmmaker Jafar Panahi and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi issued a joint statement calling for a peaceful transition away from the Islamic Republic, saying that Iran is at a critical juncture amid mounting economic and political pressures.

“We stand with the people to reclaim the right to a dignified life, freedom, justice, human dignity, and sovereignty over our own destiny,” the statement said, published on Mohammadi's official account on X.

“We warn the law-enforcement and security forces to remain faithful to their true responsibility—protecting the lives and security of the people of Iran; not carrying out orders of repression, not standing against the nation, and not shedding the blood of defenseless citizens,” it added.

The signatories, including figures such as dissident filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof, political prisoners Mostafa Tajzadeh and Rasoul Qadiyani, say a renewed wave of civil resistance “taking over the streets” reflects a national will to remove what they call the illegitimate regime and build a democratic order based on popular sovereignty, justice and normal relations with the world.

“Any violence against the people constitutes direct participation in a crime that will be recorded in the historical memory of this land. Today is a time for choice: stand with the nation and separate your ranks from the repressors who are on their way out and must be held accountable,” the statement said.

US Senator Lindsey Graham credited President Donald Trump’s Iran policy with weakening the country’s leadership, saying it is the result of Trump’s efforts “to isolate Iran economically and to use military force wisely.”

“A weakened Iran - a nation run by religious nazis - is due to President Trump’s efforts to isolate Iran economically and to use military force wisely," Republican Senator of South Carolina posed on X on Friday. “It is time to Make Iran Great Again.”

Exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi on Friday urged Iranians to “take over” the streets of Tehran and other major cities with simultaneous mass gatherings and road blockades, saying such a show of force is “necessary” to hasten the fall of the Islamic Republic.

“In order to overcome the regime’s repression, there is one path before us: the simultaneous and massive presence of people across the city, and at the same time, creating traffic jams on key routes and main roads,” Pahlavi posted on X on Friday.

“The solution is to go, in the form of small and cohesive groups of friends and family members, to the nearest street of your residence, find each other, and then hand in hand move toward the central streets of the city,” he added. “We will take back and rebuild Iran together.”

Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Friday accused US President Donald Trump of "inciting violence" through what it called "interventionist and irresponsible" remarks about the country’s internal affairs.

“Such irresponsible positions, which are a continuation of the United States’ bullying and unlawful approach toward the Iranian nation, not only constitute a blatant violation of the fundamental principles and rules of the United Nations Charter but is considered tantamount to incitement to violence and terrorism against Iranian citizens,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs assesses the threatening statements by US officials against Iran as being in line with the Israeli regime’s policy of escalating tensions in the region and emphasizes that the Islamic Republic of Iran’s response to any aggression will be swift, decisive, and comprehensive."

It added that full responsibility for the consequences of such a situation — which could further plunge the entire region into crisis and instability — would rest entirely with the United States.

US Senator Tom Cotton voiced support for President Donald Trump’s position on Iran, adding the rulers in Tehran have been a menace to the United States for the last 47 years.

“I support President Trump’s strong stance against the ayatollahs, who have tormented their own people just like they’ve killed Americans for 47 years,” the Republican senator from Arkansas posted on X on Friday.