Iran turns the tables on US after Capitol riot, voicing 'concern' over detainee rights

Tehran has mirrored the US in expressing 'extreme concern' over detainee rights.

2 min read

08 January, 2021

More than 50 people were arrested in connection with the riot [Getty]

Iran expressed "extreme concern" for the rights of suspects detained after storming the Capitol this week.

The statement by the Islamic republic's High Council for Human Rights has Tehran turning the tables on Washington, which frequently issues statements of concern and condemnation over rights abuses in Iran.

At least 52 people have been arrested in connection with the Capitol break-in by Trump supporters and the surrounding protest.

Freedom of expression and the right to hold peaceful protests must be respected by "whichever party takes power in Washington", the High Council for Human Rights said in a statement carried by Iranian state media.

The Council also condemned the United Nations' "silence" on alleged rights abuses against the Capitol "protesters".

But the Iranian government body was sure to add a parting blow to the US at the end of its statement.

"The fall of the US arrogant regime is a reality that cannot be slowed down even by possessing atomic bombs and B-52 fighter jets," it said.

The statement comes in a period of high tensions between Iran and the United States during the last days of the Trump presidency.

Washington withdrew from a landmark 2015 nuclear agreement with Tehran under President Donald Trump, launching a "maximum pressure" policy against the Islamic republic and reimposing crippling sanctions.

Iran marked on Sunday the first anniversary of the killing of top commander Qassem Soleimani.

Soleimani, who headed the Guards' foreign operations arm, was killed in a US drone strike in Baghdad, Iraq.

Turkey, also a frequent recipient of State Department concern, was earlier applauded for its expert "trolling" of the US after Ankara said it was "monitoring worrying developments" including the storming of the Capitol.

On Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned Wednesday's chaos in Washington.

"This is a disgrace for democracy," Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul.

"We hope that the transition to Mr Biden on January 20 will be peaceful and that America will go back to being at peace."

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