The World Economic Forum on Monday abruptly canceled the scheduled appearance of Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, at its annual summit in the Swiss Alps, citing a “tragic loss of lives” following a violent state crackdown on anti-government demonstrations. The decision to disinvite Araghchi, who was slated for a high-profile one-on-one conversation on Tuesday, followed a weekend of intense international pressure and harrowing reports of a massacre on the streets of Iranian cities. Rights groups and activists have described the recent unrest as the deadliest in the Islamic Republic’s history, with some estimates suggesting the death toll could exceed 12,000 people. “Although he was invited last fall, the tragic loss of lives of civilians in Iran over the past few weeks means that it is not right for the Iranian government to be represented at Davos this year,” the Forum said in a statement posted to social media. The move marks a rare, public pivot for an organization that prides itself on being a neutral platform for “the spirit of dialogue.” However, the optics of hosting a senior regime official became untenable as evidence of atrocities mounted. Human rights organizations, including United Against Nuclear Iran, had lobbied the Forum’s leadership, arguing that Mr. Araghchi’s presence would “whitewash” a campaign of state-sponsored violence that reportedly included the use of live ammunition against protesters. United Against Nuclear Iran wrote a letter to the WEF, stating: Abbas Araghchi is a long-time member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) Quds Force, a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization responsible for orchestrating acts of terrorism across the globe. The IRGC provides direct support to the military arms of Hezbollah and Hamas—both considered terrorist organizations by the United States and the European Union—and employs brutal methods, including mass executions, beatings, and rape, to crush dissent within Iran and destabilize the Middle East and beyond. Araghchi has proudly and openly admitted his allegiance to the Guards and their efforts, at one point telling other IRGC members that, “the same IRGC commander who dressed you in IRGC uniform and gave you a weapon has also given me a suit and collared shirt and given me a political mission.” This is not a man of diplomacy but a loyal operative of a regime that weaponizes terror and wields violence as state policy. As you know, just this month, the Iranian regime has carried out what some believe to be the largest massacre in its history. Araghchi is a member of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), which reportedly issued an order to use live fire on Iranian civilians protesting. Estimates suggest the regime killed at least 12,000 and up to 20,000 Iranians over the course of a few days in January as they exercised their fundamental rights to demonstrate against the Ayatollah and his tyranny. Beyond the fatalities, recent reports further highlight the severity of the human rights crisis, documenting 18,434 arrests and 1,134 individuals who sustained severe injuries. The rescission of the invitation comes as President Donald Trump is expected to arrive at the summit with the largest-ever American delegation. Over the weekend, Trump called for an end to the 37-year reign of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stating it was “time to look for new leadership in Iran” and threatening a 25% tariff on any nation conducting business with Tehran. While the Forum attempted to distance itself from the controversy, the atmosphere in Davos remains charged. Critics, including Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), earlier slammed the initial invitation as “tone deaf,” comparing it to “inviting Hitler to a world event after Kristallnacht.”