The World Economic Forum revoked an invitation to Iran's deputy foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, to attend the Davos summit after advocacy pressure and reports of a deadly crackdown on nationwide protests. United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) urged the WEF to rescind invitations to regime officials; UANI welcomed the Forum's decision. HRANA reported hundreds of protests, tens of thousands of arrests and thousands of confirmed deaths, and the U.S. said it was closely monitoring the situation with "all options" on the table. The move highlights mounting international pressure on Tehran amid sustained unrest.
Davos Bars Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister After Reports Of Deadly Crackdown
World Economic Forum sign is seen on the Congress Centre hosting the annual meeting on its opening day in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 19, 2026.(Getty Images)
The World Economic Forum (WEF) on Monday revoked an invitation for Iran's deputy foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, to attend this year's Davos summit in Switzerland. The decision followed pressure from advocacy groups and came amid reports of a violent crackdown on nationwide protests in Iran.
In a post on X, the WEF said it had extended the invitation last autumn but rescinded it in light of recent events. The organization explained that, given the "tragic loss of lives of civilians in Iran over the past few weeks," it was not appropriate for the Iranian government to be represented at Davos this year.
Advocacy pressure and response
The move came after United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) sent a letter to WEF President Børge Brende urging the Forum to rescind invitations to Iranian regime officials while authorities continue a harsh crackdown on civilians. UANI CEO Ambassador Mark Wallace welcomed the WEF's decision, saying representatives of the Iranian regime should not be platformed internationally given their record of abuses and alleged support for terrorism.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends a joint press conference after signing an Egypt-backed agreement to resume nuclear inspections in Cairo on Sept. 9, 2025.
'UANI commends the World Economic Forum for revoking the invitation of Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister from this year’s gathering in Davos,' Ambassador Wallace said in a statement.
Reported human rights toll and international reaction
According to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), which documents human-rights violations in Iran, protests entered a 22nd consecutive day as the international community watched closely. HRANA's aggregated figures reported 624 separate protests, at least 24,669 arrests, and 3,919 confirmed deaths. The agency said 3,685 of those killed were protesters, including 25 children, and noted that nearly 9,000 additional deaths remained under investigation. These figures are HRANA's counts and have been widely cited in international coverage.
At a White House briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Levitt said the U.S. was monitoring developments closely and that "all options remain on the table for the president." U.S. lawmakers have also weighed in: Senator Lindsey Graham publicly criticized the Iranian regime and opposed the pending execution of a jailed protester.
Context and implications
The WEF's decision to bar Iranian representation from Davos reflects growing international scrutiny of Tehran amid one of the country's largest waves of unrest in years. The move underscores the reputational consequences for regimes facing widespread allegations of human-rights abuses and raises questions about how international institutions engage with controversial governments during crises.
Help us improve.
