Zelensky called the protests in Iran an uprising and urged the world to act

The position of Kyiv on the events in Iran remains firm and unchanged. Ukrainian authorities directly link what is happening on the streets of Iranian cities with a broader international context — Russia’s war against Ukraine and Tehran’s role in this war.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky described the protests in Iran as an uprising and emphasized that what is happening creates additional risks and challenges for Moscow. According to him, the current moment has become critical not only for the Iranians themselves but also for the entire system of alliances on which the Kremlin relies.

In his address, Zelensky noted that the desire of the Iranian people to free themselves from the current regime is universal and understandable for any society that has experienced pressure and repression. He reminded that it is this regime that has been a source of suffering for many countries, including Ukraine.

Call for international intervention

According to Kyiv’s assessment, the world has reached a point where neutrality is no longer an option. Zelensky stated that international leaders and global organizations should not limit themselves to statements but actively engage in supporting Iranian society.

The Ukrainian position is based on the belief that changes in Iran can affect the balance of power in the region and weaken Russia’s ability to continue the war. Tehran remains one of Moscow’s key external partners, including in military and technological aspects, and therefore the protests in the country acquire additional strategic significance.

Sharp reaction from Tehran

The Iranian authorities reacted predictably harshly to international statements. The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the ambassadors of the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy after these countries publicly expressed support for the protest movement.

At the meeting with diplomats, the Iranian side demanded that European states refrain from such statements and cease what was termed as “interference in the country’s internal affairs.” This step only heightened the regime’s sense of nervousness amid ongoing demonstrations.

Protests extend beyond the country’s borders

The Iranian protests have ceased to be solely an internal matter. Across Europe, representatives of the Iranian diaspora held demonstrations at diplomatic institutions, demonstratively using the country’s flags from before the Islamic Revolution of 1979.

This symbolic gesture signaled that the protest movement has support beyond Iran and is perceived as a struggle not only against a specific authority but also against a historical stage that many Iranians consider tragic.

In Kyiv, they emphasize: support for the protests in Iran is not an emotional gesture but a conscious political position stemming from the experience of their own war and understanding of how authoritarian regimes mutually reinforce each other. It is in this context that NAnews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency records the words of the Ukrainian president as part of a broader picture — where internal uprisings begin to change the international agenda.