On Tuesday, US Ambassador Haley called for urgent meetings in the UNSC and the UN Human Rights Council to back the anti-government protesters.

"The UN must speak out,” Haley said at a news conference. “In the days ahead, we will be calling for an emergency session both here in New York and at the Human Rights Council in Geneva. We must not be silent. The people of Iran are crying out for freedom.”

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Meanwhile, President Donald Trump posted tweet after tweet slamming what he called the "brutal and corrupt" Tehran authorities.

Iran's Ambassador to the UN has snapped back at the attacks by US officials, accusing them of “grotesque” interference in his country’s internal affairs, and of encouraging regime change.

Protests erupted last week in Iran over frustration with the economy and corruption. At least 21 people have been killed in the six days of clashes with security forces. Around 450 people have been detained, some with links to foreign intelligence services. Speaking Tuesday, the Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused foreign powers of using money, weapons and political warfare to create chaos in the country.

Haley pushed for “all freedom-loving people“ to stand with the rioters' cause, saying, “The international community made the mistake of failing to do that in 2009; we must not make that mistake again.”

The 2009 protests followed the disputed victory of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Iran's presidential election, resulting in the deaths of 36 people over three months.

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