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The World Economic Forum (WEF) has decided to rescind its invitation to Iran’s foreign minister for this year’s Davos summit in Switzerland. This decision follows pressure from an advocacy group urging the exclusion of Iranian officials due to ongoing nationwide protests that have resulted in thousands of casualties.
Through a statement on X, the WEF announced that Iranian official Abbas Araghchi will no longer be attending the five-day gathering.
“Although the invitation was extended last fall, the recent tragic civilian deaths in Iran make it inappropriate for the Iranian government to have a presence at this year’s Davos,” the WEF explained.
This decision follows a formal request from United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) to WEF President Børge Brende. The group urged the Forum to revoke the invitation in light of Iran’s violent repression of its civilians.
On January 19, 2026, a sign for the World Economic Forum was visible at the Congress Centre, the venue for the annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. (Photo by Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images)
UANI CEO Ambassador Mark Wallace welcomed the decision, telling Fox News Digital in a statement after Araghchi’s invitation was withdrawn: “UANI commends the World Economic Forum for revoking the invitation of Iran’s Foreign Minister from this year’s gathering in Davos. Iranian regime representatives should not be platformed at international events given their crimes against the Iranian people and their long history of supporting terrorism.”
Iran is currently facing nationwide anti-government protests that have drawn a violent response from security forces and placed growing pressure on Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), which tracks human rights violations in Iran, said on Sunday that nationwide protests continued into the 22nd day as President Donald Trump weighs possible U.S. military action.
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. (Sayed 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 those killed were protesters, including 25 children under the age of 18.
Nearly 9,000 deaths remain under investigation.
White House press secretary Karoline Levitt said at a press briefing last week that the Trump administration was closely watching the situation in Iran.
“All options remain on the table for the president,” she told reporters.
