From Peaceful Protest to Riot Sedition and Terrorist Actions (Operation Day Thirteenth)

The attached publication, From Peaceful Protest to Riot, Sedition, and Terrorist Actions (Operation Day Thirteenth) (As Narrated by Documents and Images), prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Deputy for Legal and International Affairs, provides a legal and documentary account of events in Tehran’s markets on 28 December 2025 (7 Dey 1404). Peaceful gatherings of shopkeepers and merchants, motivated by economic concerns and calls for market stability, were diverted from their original lawful purpose into widespread violence, sedition, and armed terrorist actions from 30 December (9 Dey) onward, driven by foreign interference and unrelated to the legitimate demands of the protesters. The report examines these developments, the role of external actors, and the protection of diplomatic and consular premises, while reaffirming Iran’s commitment to international human rights law, including the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, alongside its legal responsibility to safeguard public order and citizens’ security.