The Foreign Office summoned Iran’s most senior diplomat in the UK on Monday, over the country’s crackdown on the protests rocking the country.
Since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini , who had been detained by police in the capital Tehran for allegedly not adhering to Iran’s strict Islamic dress code, thousands of Iranians have taken to the streets in protest .
The Foreign Office summoned Mehdi Hosseini Matin on Monday at the foreign secretary's request.
“The violence levelled at protesters in Iran by the security forces is truly shocking," said James Cleverly.
“Today we have made our view clear to the Iranian authorities – instead of blaming external actors for the unrest, they should take responsibility for their actions and listen to the concerns of their people.
“We will continue to work with our partners to hold the Iranian authorities to account for their flagrant human rights violations.”
Mahsa Amini protests around the world - in pictures Demonstrators chant slogans during the March of Solidarity for Iran in Washington. AFP
Another group of demonstrators at the march. AFP
A protest in support of Iranian women in Barcelona. Reuters
Iranian citizens and locals joined in the Barcelona protest. Reuters
People attend a demonstration in solidarity with Mahsa Amini and other Iranian women in Castello Square, Turin. EPA
A person places a candle during the demonstration in Turin. EPA
A protester holds a pre-Islamic Revolution Iranian flag during a demonstration in Brussels in support of the Iranians fighting for their freedom. AFP
A protester wearing a top with a logo that reads 'No to an Islamic state" as she takes part in a rally in support of the Iranian people, in Brussels. AFP
People wave the Shah-era Iranian flag during a protest in Paris. AFP
A woman shows her true colours in the protest against the Iranian government, in Paris. AFP
A woman holds a flag, as people protest against the Iranian regime outside Iran's embassy in central London. Reuters
Supporters of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) carry placards and wave party flags in Beirut, during a protest against the death of Ms Amini. EPA
People demonstrate against the Iranian government outside the Houses of Parliament in London following the death of Amini. Reuters
A mural in Paris depicts women cutting their hair to show support for Iranian protesters. AP
People take part in a rally against the Iranian government in Vancouver, Canada, on Saturday. AP
Protesters take to the streets of Tehran. EPA
Iranian protesters run after clashing with with police. EPA
A protester shaves their head outside the Houses of Parliament in London. Reuters
Iranians living in Athens hold a protest in solidarity. AFP
People take part in a rally in The Hague. AFP
A woman cuts her hair during a demonstration in Santiago, Chile, by feminist groups and Iranian migrants in support of Iranian women following the death of Amini. AFP
Members of feminist groups and Iranian migrants during the protests in Santiago. AFP
Iranian activists shout slogans during a protest against the government in Tehran, in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. EPA
A protester holds a painted portrait of Mahsa Amini in Berlin, Germany. EPA
A protester shows red paint on her face, resembling blood splatters and bloody handprints next to the national Iranian emblem, during a rally in Berlin. EPA
Iranian protesters shout slogan during a protest in Istanbul, Turkey. EPA
A woman holds a sign during a protest against the Iranian government, in front of the country's embassy in Madrid, Spain. The protests were triggered by the death of a young Iranian woman, Mahsa Amini, in police custody. Reuters
A woman cuts her hair during the protest in front of the Iranian embassy in Madrid. Reuters
Israelis show their support for women in Iran as they hold up placards of Amini during a protest in Jerusalem. EPA
Amini, 22, was arrested in Tehran on September 13, 2022, by the morality police. She fell into a coma while in police custody and was declared dead on September 16. EPA
People walk by graffiti in support of the protests triggered by Amini's death, in Jerusalem. EPA
A protest in Nantes, western France, after the death of Amini in Iranian police custody. AFP
Women gather for a demonstration in Barcelona, Spain. AFP
Demonstrators in Nantes. Amini's death has sparked a global protest movement. AFP
Women protest outside the town hall in in Montpellier, southern France. AFP
A woman at a protest in Catalunya Square, Barcelona. Reuters
Campaigners and football fans protest at a Champions League match between Porto and Bayer Leverkusen at the Dragao stadium in Portugal. EPA
People hold placards during a demonstration in solidarity with the Iranian people near the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. EPA
An Iranian woman living in Turkey with 'Freedom' written on her forehead takes part in a protest near the Iranian consulate in Istanbul. Reuters
In Barcelona, protesters take part in a demonstration in support of Iranian women. AFP
A Lebanese activist takes part in a protest in Beirut, triggered by the death of Amini, 22. AP
A Turkish protester takes off her head scarf while giving a performance in Instanbul during a protest against Iran over Amini's death. Getty
A woman in Istanbul cuts her hair during a protest against Iran. Getty
A Lebanese activist holds a poster depicting Amini during a protest in Beirut organised by feminist groups in support of women protesters in Iran. EPA
Demonstrators in Los Angeles, California, hold the Iranian flag during a protest against the government in Tehran. AFP
Demonstrators hold placards in Mexico City during a protest against Iran. Reuters
People demonstrate in Montreal, Canada, during a protest triggered by Amini's death. AFP
Iranian Americans participate in a rally in central Los Angeles, in solidarity with women in Iran. AP
Demonstrators march during a protest in Los Angeles, California. AFP
A woman with the colours of the Iranian flag painted on her face participates in a rally as thousands demonstrate in support of Iranian women in Los Angeles. EPA
Australians protest over Amini's death in Melbourne. EPA
Police block protesters from entering Iran's embassy in Oslo, Norway. EPA
Demonstrators in front of the European headquarters of the UN in Geneva, Switzerland, during a rally against Iran. EPA
A candlelight vigil for Amini in Los Angeles. AFP
Afghan women hold placards as they take part in a protest in front of the Iranian embassy in Kabul. AFP
Protestors take part in a rally outside the Iranian consulate in Istanbul. AFP
An Iranian woman shows a lock of hair she cut off during a protest outside the Iranian consulate in Istanbul. EPA
Demonstrators outside the Iranian consulate in Istanbul. Getty
Iranian Americans rally on Capitol Hill in Washington to show support for protesters in Iran. AFP
Protesters on Capitol Hill hold a sign condemning the crackdown by Tehran. AFP
German demonstrators gather in Berlin after the death of Amini in Iranian police custody. AP
A protester cries during a rally in Berlin. Reuters
A demonstration in Madrid, Spain. Thousands have gathered in cities across Europe to support protests in Iran. AP
Demonstrators gather outside the Iranian embassy in Madrid. Reuters
People take part in a protest in Lausanne, Switzerland. EPA
Protesters hold signs featuring images of Amini during the protest in the western Swiss city. EPA
Demonstrators in front of the Iranian embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. EPA
An activist outside the Iranian embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with a sign that reads 'Justice for Mahsa Amini'. AFP
A demonstration against violence in Iran is held in Quito, Ecuador. The Iranian community in Ecuador protested outside the Iranian embassy. EPA
Protesters at a demonstration outside the Iranian embassy in Quito, Ecuador. EPA
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , on Monday responded publicly to the biggest protests seen in the country in years.
He described the death of Ms Amini while she was in custody as “a sad incident” that “left us heartbroken”.
His comments came as nationwide protests sparked by Ms Amini’s death entered a third week, despite the government’s efforts to crack down on them.
Iran protests - in pictures A protest for Mahsa Amini, a woman who died after being arrested by the Islamic republic's 'morality police', in Tehran. AFP
Demonstrators disperse during the protest for Amini, who died in a hospital in the capital Tehran on Friday. AFP
The crowd chanted 'Death to the dictator', meaning Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, while some women took off their headscarves. AFP
A man pulls out a police motorcycle set on fire during the protest. Amini had been detained for violating the country's conservative dress code. AP
In recent months, rights activists have urged women to remove their veils in public, a gesture that would risk their arrest for defying a dress code as the country's rulers crack down on 'immoral behaviour'. AP
Iranians protest in Sanandaj, the capital of Iran's Kurdistan province, following the Amini's death while in custody. AFP
Iranian police officers clash with demonstrators in Tehran. Police said Amini fell into a coma as she waited with other detained women at a morality police station, rejecting allegations that she was probably beaten. AFP
Authorities have repeatedly blamed foreign countries and exiled opposition groups for fanning the unrest , without providing evidence.
Demonstrations continued in Tehran and far-flung provinces as authorities restricted internet access to the outside world and blocked social media apps.
They rapidly escalated into calls for the overthrow of the clerical establishment that has ruled Iran since its 1979 Islamic revolution.
Updated: October 03, 2022, 8:47 PM