[captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] 8152nd meeting of the Security Council is called to order. As this is the first formal meeting of the Security Council this year, i should like to extend my warm wishes on the occasion of the new year to all members of the Security Council, the United Nations, and the secretariat. In presiding over this first formal meeting of the council in 2018, and happy to welcome the cote divoire, the netherlands, and poland and look forward to their participation in the work of the council. Their experience and wisdom will be important in the discharge of the councils responsibilities. I would take the opportunity to expose the gratitude to the outgoing members, namely egypt, italy, japan, senegal, ukraine, and uruguay, for their work to the council during their terms. I should also look to take this opportunity to pay tribute on behalf of the council to his excellency, the representative of japan, for his service to the council for the month of december 2017. Im sure i speak for all members of the council in expressing deep appreciation to the ambassador and his team for the great skill that he helped with the Council Business decision last month. In accordance with rules 37 of the councils provisional rules of procedure, i invite the representative of iran to persistent rate to participate. It is so decided. In accordance with rule 39 of the councils provisional rules of procedure, i invite of the secretary general for Political Affairs to participate in the meeting. It is so decided. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of item 2 of their agenda. I give the floor to mr. Thank you, mr. President. As requested, i would like to brief the Security Council on ongoing developments in the Islamic Republic of iran and the agenda item on the situation in the middle east. As this is the first Public Meeting of the Security Council in 2018, i would like, on behalf of the department of Political Affairs, to congratulate the six new elected members of the council on the assumption of their important responsibilities. I also wish the Security Council a successful year. Mr. President , the protests in the Islamic Republic of iran started on 28 december 2017 when hundreds of iranians gathered in a largely peaceful manner in the countrys secondlargest city, chanting slogans against hardship. Over the following days protests occurred in other cities and urban areas, as well as many rural areas. Some of the slogans also expressed disappointment at the or limited change in social at the slow or limited change in social sectors and Political Freedoms and criticized what demonstrators decried as a privileged position of the clergy and elements of the Country Security establishment. Either cases, demonstrators demanded a costly involvement in the region. As the protests escalated, some turned violent. Viceos posted on social media and footage broadcast by tv channels showed the beating of protesters as well as the burning of government offices, banks, and religious centers. According to reports carried by official iranian media, more than 20 iranians, including a teenage boy and a policeman, have died during the protests. Irans ministry of interior stated that over 1000 protesters have been detained. Although they have since been released. With very limited presence on the ground, the secretariat cannot confirm or deny the authenticity of the images that have been broadcast or the extent of the violence. However, we have received reports that the police, rather than the military forces, where were responding to the protests. On january 3, irans revolutionary guards announced the end of antigovernment protests. Recent reports indicate smaller and scattered demonstrations. Meanwhile, from the 3rd to the 5th of january, large rallies were reportedly held across the country with participants expressing support for the Supreme Leader and condemning violence. Mr. President , members of the Security Council, on the first of december 2017, president rouhani told a Cabinet Meeting that the radiance should be allowed space to protest and criticize their government. At the same time he stressed violence will not be tolerated. Two days later on 2 january Supreme Leader later accused his enemies secretarygeneral, accusing the United States of stepping up, its acts of intervention in a grotesque way in irans internal affairs and the text the and providing support. Mr. President , the outbreak of violence and protest in iran has focused the attention to events in the country. A number of World Leaders have expressed support for the iranian protesters. Others, including the European Union, have called on the iranian parties to expect the right to peaceful demonstration and freedom of opinion. Yet more have supported the government of iran, calling protests an internal matter. On the 3rd of january, the secretarygeneral issued a statement, urging respectful rights to Peaceful Assembly and freedom of expression and that demonstrations take place in a peaceful manner. The organization of human rights called on the iranian authorities to handle the wave of protests that have taken place around the country with great care so as not to further inflame violence arrests and to investigate all deaths and serious injuries that have occurred so far. On the 5th of january, four United Nations special reporters stated that the Iranian Authority should take immediate action to ensure all citizens can exercise peacefully the right to freedom of expression and assembly and to insure that these and other fundamental rights are not met with violence. Mr. President , members of the council, as of today, the United NationsDevelopment Work in the Islamic Republic of iran has not been significantly affected by the recent events. The secretariat will continue to monitor development from the ground and engage iranian authorities with a view to contribute to efforts that were addressed on january 3, the legitimate concerns of the population through peaceful means, or distribution through peaceful protesters. Thank you for your briefing. I now give the floor to those Council Members who wish to make statements. I give the floor to the representative of the United States. Ambassador haley happy new year to all the members of the Security Council and the general assembly. In the past week what has happened on the ground throughout the nation of iran is something the world must take note of. It is a spontaneous expression of fundamental human rights. The iranian people are rising up in over 79 locations throughout the country. It is a powerful exhibition of brave people who have become so fed up with their oppressive government that they are willing to risk their lives in protest. The world should applaud their courage. The voices of the iranian people should be heard. We have debated the proper role of human rights in the Security Council. Some of our colleagues believe human rights no place here. They believe rights and fundamental freedoms are the business only of the governments that control them. The United States does not share that belief. Human rights are not the gift of governments. They are the inalienable right of the people themselves. Freedom and Human Dignity cannot be separated from peace and security when the rights of the from peace and security. When the rights of the people are denied the people rightly resist. If the concerns are not acknowledged, then peace and security are inevitably threatened. The case of syria provides a recent and horrible testament to this fact. And what is happening in the towns and cities across iran right now bears out this fundamental truth. The content of the regime for the rights of its people has been widely documented for many years. The people of iran have finally had enough. And they are showing it by taking to the streets. The iranian people understand the nature of their regime. They understand the lack of voice and their government has allowed the regime to ignore them. And it has allowed the regime to spread conflict and instability far and wide. If you listen to the slogans they chant in the street, this understanding comes through loud and clear. The United Nation reports the Iranian Regime spends at least 6 billion every year propping up the murderous assad regime in syria. The people of iran know this. So they are telling the government, let go of syria, think of us. The Iranian Regime spends millions in militias in iraq each year. It gives millions more to the Houthi Rebels in yemen. Including sending them a missiles to fire at other countries. Meanwhile, the average iranian family is 15 poorer today than it was 10 years ago. The iranian people demand, think of us. It rewards Construction Contracts to corrupt guard corps, affiliated firms. They construct buildings that skimp on safety. Thousands of these buildings collapsed during an earthquake. Hundreds died. And the iranian people chant, think of us. Today the people of iran are speaking of their government. And their messages undeniable stop the support for terrorism, stop giving billions of our money to killers and dictators, stop taking our wealth and spending it on foreign fighters. Think of us. Freedomloving nations worldwide have spread support for the cause of the iranian people can the deck, norway, the United Kingdom, israel, france, sweden, the European Union. We honor and appreciate all of the statements of support. But we must do more. The Iranian Regime is attempting to cut down best to cut Internet Access in an attempt to silence communication of the protesters. We cannot allow that to happen. Every member of the u. N. States sovereign, but Member States cannot use sovereignty as a shield when they categorically deny their people fundamental rights. I call all on of my colleagues daniel five the message and i call on the government of iran to stop censoring the voice of the people and restore the access to the internet because in the end the iranian people will determine their own destiny. Let there be no doubt whatsoever, the United States stands unapologetically with those in iran who speak freedom for themselves. We will not be quite. No dishonest attempt to call the protesters up as a foreign powers will change that. The iranian people know the truth. And we know the truth. They are acting of their own will, on her own behalf, for their own future. Nothing will stop americans from standing in solidarity with them. In 2009, the world stood by passively while the hoops of the iranian people work cut death crushedan people were by their government. Once again the people of iran are rising up. They are asking something the something that no government can legitimately deny them. They are calling out, think of us. If the founding principles of this institution mean anything, we will not only hear their cry, we will finally answer it. The Iranian Regime is now on notice. The world will be watching what you do. Thank you. I thank the representative of the United States for her statement. I now give the floor to the representative of france. President , i thank the assistant secretarygeneral for the specific briefing element he shared with us on recent events. We are keeping a close eye on the situation. I would like on behalf of france to share with you two main messages this afternoon. Firstly, we have met together this afternoon on the situation in the middle east. And more specifically, on the question of it around of iran. And everyone knows within the Security Council there are several agenda items that allow us to discuss the various matters relating to the middle east security and peace in the region, whether that be the implementation of 2231 or actions pertaining to lebanon, syria, yemen. In this context, our role is to do all that we can to find a solution to the flashpoints in the crisis in the middle east. And it is that understanding that we must commit to fully upholding the Nuclear Agreement with iran. The joint comprehensive plan of. Ction, the jcpoa we must also commit to fully promoting its implementation. This is the approach that enjoyed consensus to the Councils Meeting of last year. The said Nuclear Agreement concerns each and every one of us. Hand is toter at ensure it is rigorously implemented. The agreement was one of the cornerstones of stability in the region and the middle east. To lose this hardwon ground would be a major setback not just for the region, but for the entire International Community, and for the nonproliferation regime. And the consequences fallout might be very heavy. We almost must pursue a realistic and robust dialogue with iran to ensure it doesnt pose a risk of regional instability. We must engage in frank discussions with iran so that with tehran and we can address the concern pertaining to their ran influence in the middle east. And its role in regional crises, more specifically iraq, syria, yemen. In each of the aforementioned countries, we need to find the ways and means that will allow us to respond to attempts at external meddling and preventing extra meddling is how we came age our attempts at state lighting said countries by preventing said meddling. Seclude solutions to the conflict in the middle east over the last few years. Despite some deep divisions, this dialogue is essential for all of us. Each and every one of us needs to engage in this dialogue. We are going to it open eyed and pursue dialogue tirelessly. My second point concerns the specific issue that has brought the Council Together today. I would like to express my alarm in light of the violence the recent protests in iran were met. It is essential to fundamental freedoms, such as the freedom of beliefnce, freedom of freedom of expression and , communication. Iranian should be able to peacefully protest and how their voices openly heard. We must be watchful and be ensured that this is what president macron said to his iranian counterpart during their conversation on the 2nd of january. President , it is up to the iranians and the iranians alone to pursue the path of peaceful dialogue, a dialogue based on full respect for the fundamental rights of the iranian people. However, the events of the last two days, they do not constitute per se, the threat to International Peace and security. We must react appropriately to what has been going on. In other words, we must ensure that we remain watchful and give proper vigilance to what is happening and to these peaceful protests. Given the risk of violence and response of protesters but we must be wary about attempts to for personalcrisis ends, which would have an outcome diametrically opposed. The change will come from the iranian people themselves. It will come from the people themselves. The representative of france for their statement. I give the floor to the representative of bolivia. Thank you very much, president. Testimony, given that this is the first open meeting of the Security Council this month, i would like to once again congratulate the delegation on behalf of the delegation from state of bolivia. President , the bolivian delegation believes that the holding of the meeting this afternoon is not a good sign. It is not a Welcome Initiative and i make that point in the understanding that that has been the case in the past, we are witnessing a point attempt by some missions to bring to the attention of the Security Council issues that do not fall within the purview of this body. We categorically reject the undisguised attempt by some delegations to porsche for meetings on issues that do not represent threats to International Peace and security. In so doing, they run the risk of the Security Council turning into a Political Tool to be exploited to each members ends. It needs to be abundantly and crystalclear to the International Community that the situation in iran is not an issue that belongs on the agenda of the Security Council, and we are concerned to see that there are clumsy attempts to force his are clumsy attempts to force its inclusion on the Security Council agenda as part of the broader middle east agenda item. The p