Foreign diplomats visit Tehran sites damaged during protests

Ambassadors accredited to Iran carried out a field visit in Tehran on Wednesday to inspect damage caused by recent protests, according to Iranian state media.

The state broadcaster IRIB reported that the tour was organised by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and included ambassadors from 25 countries.

Among the participants was Turkey’s ambassador to Iran, Hijabi Kırlınç. During the visit, diplomats were briefed by Iranian officials on the extent of the material damage resulting from the protests.

The tour included stops at religious sites, public buses and government buildings that authorities said had been vandalised or set ablaze during the unrest. Officials provided the diplomats with detailed explanations of the losses sustained by public facilities and infrastructure.

Protests erupted in Iran in late December amid a sharp depreciation of the national currency and worsening economic conditions. The demonstrations began in the capital, Tehran, before spreading to several other cities. President Masoud Pezeshkian has acknowledged the depth of public discontent linked to economic and living conditions.

Iranian authorities have accused the United States of seeking to exploit the unrest through sanctions and political pressure, alleging attempts to foment instability and chaos as a pretext for external intervention. They have also pointed to Israel as contributing to escalating pressure on Tehran during the protests.

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