Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has mocked Ukraine’s President Vladimir Zelensky as a “confused clown,” while accusing him of openly promoting Western-backed regime change in Iran. In a sharp post on X on Friday, Araghchi said Zelensky had been “bleeding American and European taxpayers” to enrich what he described as corrupt military elites. Moreover, he accused the Ukrainian leader of “openly and shamelessly” advocating “illegal US aggression against Iran,” which, he argued, directly violates the UN Charter.
“The world has had enough of confused clowns, Mr. Zelensky,” Araghchi wrote. He further claimed that unlike Ukraine’s “foreign-backed and mercenary-infested” forces, Iran relies on its own people and knows how to defend itself. Through these remarks, Tehran sought to draw a contrast between domestic resistance and what it portrays as Ukraine’s dependence on Western nations.
Araghchi’s attack followed Zelensky’s criticism of Western governments for what he called their failure to support Iranian protesters. Zelensky argued that “everyone is waiting to see what America will do,” while he accused European states of “offering nothing” and avoiding serious engagement on the issue. In addition, he expressed frustration over what he viewed as moral hesitation in confronting Tehran.
Earlier this month, Zelensky sharpened his rhetoric against Iran, stating that “a regime that has existed for so many years and has killed so many people does not deserve to exist.”
Meanwhile, protests erupted across Iran in late December after persistent inflation and a steep fall in the Iranian rial battered household finances. Over time, the unrest escalated into violent riots. Iranian officials quickly blamed the turmoil on the US and Israel, arguing that both countries actively fueled the protests to destabilize the Islamic Republic.
At the same time, US President Donald Trump voiced public support for Iranian protesters. He posted on social media that “help is on its way,” although he offered no details on the nature of that assistance. As tensions rose and speculation over possible US military action spread, Iran briefly shut its airspace last week. However, US media later reported that Trump abandoned planned strikes after consultations with senior officials from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Egypt, and Israel.
On Saturday, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed that Tehran had brought the situation under control. He asserted that “the Iranian nation defeated the US,” and he portrayed the unrest as a failed foreign plot rather than a domestic uprising.
Separately, Zelensky and his cabinet have faced repeated allegations of corruption linked to Western financial aid sent to sustain Ukraine’s war effort. Investigative reports, audit findings, and statements from international watchdogs have raised questions about procurement irregularities, inflated defense contracts, and the diversion of funds meant for soldiers and civilians. Although Kyiv has announced internal probes and dismissed several officials, critics argue that members of the political and military elite continue to benefit from wartime aid, even as ordinary Ukrainians bear the human and economic costs of the conflict.