The EU has urged Iran to refrain from any violent response to protestors and condemned the deaths of more that 20 demonstrators in recent days.
In a statement issued on Tuesday (2 January), EU Vice-President Federica Mogherini offered the first formal remarks on the unrest.
Mogherini’s comments came as Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blamed enemies including the US and Saudi Arabia for instigating the protests.
In the EU statement, which echoed earlier comments by a spokeswoman, Mogherini urged restraint from violence and demanded that the government in Tehran uphold citizens’ rights to free expression.
Mogherini said: “We expect all concerned to refrain from violence and the right of expression to be guaranteed, also in the light of the statements made by the Iranian government.”
Adding: “For the EU, human rights have always been a core issue in our relationship with Iran. Peaceful demonstration and freedom of expression are fundamental rights that apply to every country, and Iran is no exception.”
The EU statement made clear that it expects Tehran to also uphold fundamental liberties.
