Zelensky Backs Iranian Protesters as Washington-Tehran Tension Grows
AI Analysis
Ukrainian President Zelensky condemned Iran's role in supplying Shahed drones to Russia, which have been used extensively in attacks on Ukraine, while expressing support for Iranian protesters and the EU's designation of Iran's IRGC as a terrorist organization. The growing Tehran-Moscow alliance and international condemnation of Iran's actions highlight escalating tensions in the region.
Key Takeaways
- Zelensky criticized Iran for supplying Shahed drones used in Russian attacks on Ukraine.
- Ukraine supports Iranian anti-government protests and condemns Tehran's violent crackdown.
- The EU designated Iran's IRGC as a terrorist organization, with Ukraine already having made a similar decision.
- Iran and Russia continue to strengthen their alliance amid growing international pressure.
- Zelensky emphasized Ukraine's alignment with global efforts to counter Iran's destabilizing activities.
Why It Matters
Iran's supply of Shahed drones to Russia has significantly impacted Ukraine's defense efforts, highlighting the importance of counter-UAS systems in modern warfare. The strengthening of the Tehran-Moscow alliance poses a strategic challenge to Western nations, as it underscores the need for coordinated responses to drone warfare and regional destabilization.
President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed support for anti-government protests in Iran on Monday, in the wake of a brutal crackdown by Tehran that has killed thousands.
The protests – which began on Dec. 28 in response to the catastrophic devaluation of Iran’s currency – gathered momentum after US President Donald Trump promised that the US would “come to [protesters’] rescue” if the government opened fire on them. It is a promise he has yet to keep.
Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.
Writing on Telegram, Zelensky said Monday that “Ukraine will not forget any of the thousands of Shaheds striking our cities and villages, our people” – referring to the Iranian-designed Shahed drones frequently used in Russian attacks on Ukraine.
Tehran and Moscow have long been allies. Russian President Vladimir Putin met with the head of Iran’s top security body in Moscow on Friday, as US pressure on Iran continued to build.
“Ukraine supports the peoples who value freedom and are truly ready to fight for it,” Zelensky said. “The whole world sees what is happening in Iran, how many murders there are and how the Iranian regime has contributed to the spread of war and violence in the region and the world.”
The EU designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is charged with the defense of the government, as a terrorist organization on Jan. 29. On Sunday, Iran retaliated with a similar designation for Europe’s armies.
Zelensky expressed support for the EU’s decision to condemn Iran’s IRGC, pointing out that Ukraine had already done so.
“We in Ukraine have already made such a decision and have already designated this organization as a terrorist organization, for us this issue is closed,” he said.
Sophie Watson is a freelance journalist based between London and Kyiv whose work has appeared in The Economist, Columbia Journalism Review and 1843 magazine.