US Ambassador Nikki Haley speaking at the UN headquarters in New York. Photo: Reuters / Lucas Jackson.

The US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley on Tuesday praised the courage of Iranian demonstrators and said protests across the Islamic Republic were spontaneous and not driven by outside forces.

After she read out social media posts written by Iranians in support of the demonstrations, many of which openly called for the overthrow of the Tehran regime, Haley dismissed Iranian leaders’ contention that the unrest was being orchestrated by their external enemies.

“We all know that’s complete nonsense,” she said. “The demonstrations are completely spontaneous. They are virtually in every city in Iran. This is the precise picture of a long oppressed people’s rising up against their dictators.”

Haley said the US was seeking emergency sessions on Iran at the United Nations Security Council in New York and at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

“We must not be silent,” she said. “The people of Iran are crying out for freedom.”

Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon on Tuesday called out the UN for “hypocrisy” in the face of the Iranian protests.

Iranians are taking to the streets to demand basic rights and freedoms. Protesters have been jailed and even killed. How many Human Rights Council reports have been issued? How many statements or resolutions have been adopted condemning the regime in Tehran? None of course. 2/3

— Ambassador Danon (@dannydanon) January 2, 2018