UN Chief Congratulates Iran On Anniversary Of Bloody Islamic Revolution

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is facing backlash after sending a formal message congratulating Iran on the anniversary of its 1979 Islamic Revolution, even as the regime continues to face scrutiny over serious human rights abuses.

In a letter to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Guterres offered his “warmest congratulations” on the National Day of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iranian state media reported Wednesday that the secretary-general framed the occasion as an opportunity for reflection on a nation’s history and its contributions to the international community.

The timing of the message has drawn particular outrage, coming just weeks after widespread protests across Iran left thousands dead. The unrest began in late December in response to Iran’s struggling economy under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but evolved into a broader uprising against the country’s clerical regime.

Two senior officials from Iran’s Ministry of Health said the government’s internal death toll reached approximately 30,000 on Jan. 8 and 9 alone, according to TIME magazine.

Just weeks ago, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a