Iran FM responds to Zelensky’s Iran protest remarks with personal attack

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday hit back at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, launching a personal attack days after Zelensky accused Iran’s leadership of killing its own people to stay in power.

In a post on X, Araghchi dismissed Zelensky as a “confused clown” and accused him of misusing Western financial support. “The world has had enough of Confused Clowns, Mr. Zelensky,” he wrote, alleging that the Ukrainian leader had been “rinsing American and European taxpayers” to benefit what he described as corrupt military figures.

Araghchi added that Iranians were capable of defending themselves and had “no need to beg foreigners for help.” Zelensky’s remarks that provoked Tehran’s response were made at the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Thursday. Referring to unrest in Iran, he warned that the survival of the country’s clerical leadership would set a dangerous precedent globally.

“If the regime survives, it sends a clear message to every bully: kill enough people, and you stay in power,” Zelensky said.

Ukraine has been fighting a full-scale Russian invasion for nearly four years. Iran is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the two countries moved last week to deepen bilateral ties. Ukraine and several Western governments have accused Iran of supplying drones and ballistic missiles to Russia for use in the war—claims Tehran has repeatedly denied.

Zelensky also criticised what he called Western inaction over the violence in Iran. “There was a lot of talk about protests in Iran, but they drowned in blood. The world has not helped the Iranian people enough; it stood aside,” he said.

Iranian authorities have said more than 3,000 people were killed during the protests, while blaming the unrest on the United States and Israel. Human rights groups dispute the official figures, estimating the death toll could be as high as 20,000, and say independent verification has been hindered by prolonged internet shutdowns in the country.