India has voted against a United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution that condemned Iran for its crackdown on recent anti-government protests. The resolution, which also demanded an end to "brutal repression" by Tehran, was adopted during the council's 39th special session.

The resolution was passed with 25 votes in favor, 7 against, and 14 abstentions. India was among the seven countries, including China, that opposed the resolution. The UNHRC resolution urged Iran to end and prevent extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and arbitrary arrests. It also called on the Iranian government to respect, protect, and fulfill its human rights obligations.

The protests in Iran initially began on December 28, 2025, due to rising inflation but later expanded to over 100 towns and cities, with demonstrators demanding an end to clerical rule. The UNHRC stated that it "strongly deplores the violent crackdown of peaceful protests," which has resulted in thousands of deaths, including children, injuries to numerous civilians, and the arrest of thousands since the demonstrations began.

India did not issue any statement or explanation for its vote. However, sources suggest that India's vote was influenced by its traditional discomfort with country-specific resolutions at the UNHRC and that the special session was "unwarranted".

Following India's vote, Iran's Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, expressed his gratitude to New Delhi for its "principled and firm support" of Iran, including opposing what he described as an unjust and politically motivated resolution. He stated that India's stance reflects its commitment to justice, multilateralism, and national sovereignty.

According to activists, at least 5,000 people have been killed in the crackdown on the protests. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that the deaths included over 4,700 protesters, more than 200 individuals linked to the Iranian government, 43 children, and 40 civilians not involved in the unrest. HRANA also stated that over 26,800 people have been detained as part of an expanding arrest campaign. Other reports claim that the Iranian government has stated a lower death toll of 3,000.