The World Economic Forum (WEF) on Monday withdrew an invitation to Iran’s foreign minister to attend the summit in Davos, Switzerland, after an advocacy group urged the country to ban Iranian regime officials amid nationwide anti-government protests that have left thousands dead.
In a post on X, the WEF confirmed that Abbas Araghchi would not be allowed to attend the five-day event.
“Although he was invited last fall, the tragic loss of lives of civilians in Iran in recent weeks means that it is not right for the Iranian government to be represented at Davos this year,” the organization said.
The announcement comes after advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) sent a letter to WEF President Børge Brende on Friday, urging him to withdraw the invitation and ban Iranian regime officials from attending amid a brutal crackdown on civilians.
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A World Economic Forum sign is seen at the convention center where the annual WEF meeting takes place on opening day in Davos, Switzerland, on January 19, 2026. (Stof Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images)
Iran is currently facing nationwide anti-government protests that have provoked a violent response from security forces and increased pressure on Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), which tracks human rights abuses in Iran, said on Sunday that nationwide protests continued into their 22nd day as President Donald Trump weighs possible US military action.
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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends a joint press conference after signing an Egyptian-backed deal to resume nuclear inspections in Cairo on September 9, 2025. (Said Hassan/Getty)
The group’s aggregated figures showed 624 recorded protests, the arrest of at least 24,669 people and the confirmed deaths of 3,919 individuals.
HRANA said 3,685 of the dead were protesters, including 25 children under 18.
Nearly 9,000 deaths remain under investigation.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Levitt said at a news conference last week that the Trump administration was closely monitoring the situation in Iran.
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“All options are still on the table for the president,” she told reporters.
