Person arrested at protest outside Wellington’s Iranian Embassy

About 40 people are outside the Iranian Embassy in Wellington, calling for the removal of the Iranian regime and for the Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi to be installed as Shah. Photo / RNZ, Mark Papalii

By RNZ

A person has been arrested at a protest outside the Iranian Embassy in Wellington.

About 40 people have been chanting, calling for the removal of the Iranian regime and for the Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi to be installed as Shah.

Many there say they have family back in Iran who they haven’t heard from in four or five days since the government there shut down internet and phone services.

One man climbed up to erect a pre-Revolution Iranian flag, but this was removed by someone from inside the Iranian Embassy in Wellington. Photo / RNZ, Mark Papalii

One man climbed up to erect a pre-Revolution Iranian flag, but this was removed by someone from inside the embassy.

At least 10 police officers have been keeping access to the road open on the narrow road in the Wellington suburb of Hataitai as the protest continues.

The crowd has a loudhailer and has been chanting since about 10am.

It comes as US-based rights group HRANA said it had verified the deaths of 544 people in Iran, 15 days into protests against the Government.

The protests began over rampant inflation but have since spread across the country and had become general protests against the regime.

The flow of information outside of Iran had been constrained since authorities cut off internet access and telephone lines on Thursday.

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters expressed grave concern at reports protesters have been killed in Iran, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) urged any New Zealanders still in Iran to leave now.

US President Donald Trump was also briefed on potential military intervention options, including military strikes and sanctions.

- RNZ