VIDEO A journalist directly confronts Iran's ambassador: “You tried to kill me three times”
A senior UN official, Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, lamented before the United Nations Security Council on Thursday that threats to carry out military attacks against Iran, such as those made by US President Donald Trump, aggravate an “already explosive” situation. The meeting was marked by a tense moment, with journalist Masih Alinejad directly confronting Iran's ambassador, according to AFP and Sky News.
On December 28 last year, violent protests broke out in Iran against the background of the rising cost of living, which then spread throughout the country. The demonstrations became one of the most important movements to challenge power since the proclamation of the Islamic Republic in 1979.
At least 3,428 protesters have been killed, according to the latest tally by Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR), which says this is “an absolute minimum” and also reports more than 10,000 arrests.
Until Wednesday, the United States – which convened this meeting of the Security Council in New York – threatened military intervention if the regime in Tehran did not abandon the execution of the arrested protesters.
Warned by its Gulf allies about the risks of serious repercussions in the region, Washington took a step back, however reiterating on Thursday through White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt that “all options remain on the table”.
The warning came from the White House, even as Iran suspended hundreds of executions
“We note with concern various public statements that mention possible military strikes against Iran. This external dimension adds volatility to an already explosive situation,” Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, the UN's deputy secretary-general, told members of the Security Council.
“Every effort must be made to avoid any further deterioration” of the situation, she added.
US position
The United States' representative to the UN, Ambassador Mike Waltz, reiterated that his country and President Trump “stand with the brave Iranian people.”
“The level of repression that the Iranian regime has unleashed against its own citizens, its own people, has repercussions for international peace and security,” Waltz explained.
Iran denounces US 'geopolitical aims'
Iranian authorities claim that the “revolutionaries” are supported by Israel and the United States.
Iran's representative to the United Nations, Gholamhossein Darzi, accused his American counterpart of “exploiting peaceful demonstrations for geopolitical purposes”.
Russia, through the voice of its ambassador Vassili Nebenzia, accused the United States of “fueling tensions and hysteria.”
The target of the assassins
Invited by the United States to speak at this meeting, Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad stated that “Iranians are united” against the regime and that they “welcomed President Trump's offer to come to their aid.”
In October, a US judge sentenced two men to 25 years in prison for trying to assassinate Alinejad at Tehran's request.
“You tried to kill me three times”
“I am now addressing the representative of the Islamic Republic directly,” the journalist said, turning to Ambassador Gholamhossein Darzi during her speech.
“You tried to kill me three times. I saw with my own eyes my would-be assassin in front of the garden of my house in Brooklyn. In the United States, in a court, I saw my would-be assassin confess that he was hired by the Revolutionary Guard (IRGC, no) to end my life,” added Masih Alinejad.
🚨 HOLY SMOKES. Brave Iranian activist Masih Alinejad goes nuclear on the Khamenei regime at the UN.
“I now address the representative of the Islamic Republic directly. You have tried to kill me three times.”
“My crime? Echoing the voice of innocent people that you killed. Your… pic.twitter.com/svbCzzhy7D— ⁿᵉʷˢ Barron Trump 🇺🇸 (@BarronTNews_) January 15, 2026
“He said that the American agent who compared the mandatory wearing of the hijab to the Berlin Wall must be killed. I am that woman. But I am not an agent of America. I have my own will. And I am grateful to the American government and law enforcement for protecting my life,” the journalist continued.
“Your leader, Ali Khamenei, ordered my murder,” she charged.
“What is my crime? Simply that I gave voice to the innocent people you are killing,” Masih Alinejad added.
She continued: “If it wasn't for the protection of law enforcement, I could not be here to testify for millions of people who are facing the same killers, the same terrorist regime in my country. The same IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, no), with the same AK47s, is killing them in front of their family members.”
The second part of my speech at the UN Security Council in front of the representative of the Islamic Republic, the murderer of the Iranian people.
#IranRevolution2026 #DigitalBlackoutIran pic.twitter.com/4WBbQYCphX
— Masih Alinejad 🏳️ (@AlinejadMasih) January 15, 2026
And as she began to name the civilians killed by the Tehran regime, the journalist broke down in tears, saying she felt guilty for not knowing the names of all the victims.
The final part of my speech at the UN Security Council in front of the representative of the Islamic Republic, the murderer of the Iranian people.#IranRevolution2026 #DigitalBlackoutIran pic.twitter.com/XKvNBjk84U
— Masih Alinejad 🏳️ (@AlinejadMasih) January 15, 2026
