MOSCOW: Russia accused the United States on Friday of interfering in Iranian affairs as the UN Security Council prepared to hold a meeting at Washington?s request on deadly protests in Iran. ?The United States continues to interfere both openly and covertly in the internal affairs of other countries. They do so shamelessly,? Russia?s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying by Interfax news agency. ?This is how we view the American initiative to convene the UN Security Council over a situation that is of purely national concern in Iran.? The council was due to hold a session at 2000 GMT Friday at Washington?s request to discuss the wave of Iranian protests.