TEHRAN – The Group of Friends in Defense of the UN Charter has strongly condemned recent threats of force against Iran, characterizing foreign interference and the incitement of violence as flagrant violations of international law.

In a recent statement, the 17-nation coalition—which includes Russia, China, Algeria, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Uganda, Belarus, Bolivia, and Zimbabwe, among others—demanded an immediate end to “illegal measures” aimed at destabilizing the Islamic Republic.

The group expressed deep concern over the transition of initial economic protests into organized “terrorist acts” conducted by foreign-backed elements.

The statement specifically lamented the deaths of civilians and law enforcement officers, as well as the systematic destruction of public property during the riots of January 8 and 9.

The unrest, originally sparked by economic grievances tied to long-standing Western sanctions, was quickly co-opted by armed cells that Iranian authorities say were orchestrated and incentivized by foreign spy services.

The statement follows a high-stakes emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Thursday, where Iran, Russia, and China sharply criticized the United States. During the session, the three nations condemned Washington’s conduct and inflammatory statements, arguing that U.S. rhetoric amounted to a direct provocation of violence.

Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia and Chinese representatives warned that “military adventurism” would push the region into an unpredictable abyss, rejecting what they termed as Washington’s attempt to justify blatant aggression against a sovereign state.

In tandem with these diplomatic efforts, Iranian security forces have moved to neutralize internal threats, detaining over 3,000 individuals.

Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh noted that these elements were part of a highly organized campaign, with reports indicating financial bounties were offered for the killing of security personnel.

Reaffirming its “full solidarity” with Tehran, the Group of Friends urged the United Nations and its Secretary-General to frankly condemn these violations of sovereignty.

The coalition emphasized that the international community must reject “irresponsible measures” that undermine the UN Charter and promote regional instability through the exploitation of internal domestic issues.