On Friday, January 23, 2026, India voted against a United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution that criticized Iran's handling of recent anti-government protests. The resolution, which called for an end to the "brutal repression" in Tehran, was passed during the council's 39th special session.
The resolution was adopted with 25 countries voting in favor, 7 against, and 14 abstaining. India was among the seven countries that opposed the resolution. The resolution expressed concerns regarding the deaths of numerous individuals, including children, the injuries inflicted on many others, and the arrests of thousands during the protests that began on December 28, 2025. These protests initially focused on rising inflation but later evolved to demand an end to clerical rule, spreading across more than 100 towns.
The UNHRC resolution extended the mandate of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran for an additional two years. It also extended the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran for a year. The resolution further urged the Fact-Finding Mission to conduct an urgent investigation into the suppression of the nationwide protests. It called upon the Iranian government to uphold its human rights obligations and to prevent extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, sexual and gender-based violence, arbitrary arrests and detentions, and torture against peaceful protesters.
According to activists, the crackdown on protests has resulted in at least 5,000 deaths. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported that the toll includes over 4,700 protesters, more than 200 demonstrators affiliated with the Iranian government, 43 children, and 40 civilians who did not participate in the unrest. The agency also stated that over 26,800 people have been detained.
Iran's Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, expressed gratitude to the Indian government for its stance. In a post on X, Fathali thanked India for its "principled and firm support of the Islamic Republic of Iran at the UNHRC, including opposing an unjust and politically motivated resolution". He added that this stance reflects India's commitment to justice, multilateralism, and national sovereignty.
India's vote against the resolution aligns with its general voting pattern at the United Nations General Assembly and its Third Committee, where it has typically opposed country-specific resolutions on Iran's human rights record. However, in April 2024, India abstained after Iran made comments regarding Jammu and Kashmir. Sources indicate that in 2025, India voted against a similar resolution after receiving assurances from Iran that it would refrain from commenting on India's internal affairs.
