Zelenskiy Urges Decisive US Action on Iran, Cautions Against Escalation

Zelenskiy Responds to US Strikes in Iran

KYIV, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, addressing U.S. strikes in Iran on Saturday, said it was important that Washington act decisively, but also that hostilities did not escalate into a wider war.

Call for Decisive Action

"Whenever there is American resolve, global criminals weaken," Zelenskiy, who has previously called for the Iranian government to be overthrown, wrote on social media.

Message to Russia

"This understanding must also come to the Russians," he added.

Iran’s Role in the Russia-Ukraine War

Tehran is a close ally of Moscow, which has been at war with Ukraine since 2022. Iran has supplied Russia with thousands of long-range Shahed drones, the designs for which have also been used to build drones in Russian factories.

Impact of Iranian Drones

Zelenskiy said Moscow had fired over 57,000 Shahed-type drones at Ukraine during the war.

Appeal for Iranian People and Global Security

Support for Regime Change

"It is fair to give the Iranian people a chance to rid themselves of a terrorist regime and to guarantee security for all nations that have suffered from terror originating in Iran," he wrote, adding that it was important to preserve lives where possible.

Warning Against Escalation

"It is important to prevent the war from expanding. It is important that the United States is acting decisively."

(Reporting by Max Hunder; Editing by Kevin Liffey)