Finance
Ukraine's Zelenskiy: World Must Help Iran Engineer Change
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on January 12, 2026
2 min readLast updated: January 19, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleQuick Summary
Zelenskiy calls for global support to aid Iranian protests, highlighting potential impacts on Russia-Iran relations and human rights issues.
Zelenskiy Urges Global Support for Iranian Change Amid Protests
Global Response to Iranian Protests
Jan 12 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday that the world had to help Iranians build on protests to engineer change to free them from rule that brought evil to their own and other countries, including Ukraine.
Zelenskiy's Perspective
Zelenskiy, speaking in his nightly video address, described the nationwide protests gripping Iran as an "uprising".
Impact on Russia-Iran Relations
He said the unrest showed that Russia had to rethink its close links with Iran, which have included its wide use of Iranian-made "Shahed" drones in the nearly four-year-old war against Kyiv.
Human Rights Concerns
"Every normal person on Earth very much wants the people of Iran to finally be fortunate enough to free themselves from the regime that exists there and that has brought so much evil, including to Ukraine and to other countries," Zelenskiy said.
"It is important that the world not miss this moment, when change is possible. Every leader, every country, international organisations must engage now and help people remove those who are responsible for Iran unfortunately being what it has been."
U.S.-based rights group HRANA said it had verified the deaths of 572 people and the arrests of more than 10,000 in protests which began on December 28.
The protests have evolved from complaints about economic hardships to calls for the fall of the clerical establishment.
Russia and Iran have developed closer ties since the Kremlin ordered the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a 20-year strategic partnership pact last year that deepened military ties and boosted cooperation in a range of areas.
(Reporting by Ron Popeski and Oleksandr Kozhukhar; Editing by Alistair Bell)
Key Takeaways
- •Zelenskiy urges global support for Iranian protests.
- •Protests in Iran are seen as an uprising by Zelenskiy.
- •Russia-Iran relations may be impacted by the unrest.
- •Human rights concerns highlighted with protest casualties.
- •Iranian protests demand regime change amid economic woes.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ukraine's Zelenskiy: world must help Iran engineer change
1What is a protest?
A protest is a public demonstration or gathering where individuals express their opposition to policies, actions, or conditions, often seeking change or reform.
2What are human rights?
Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person, including the right to life, freedom of expression, and equality before the law.
3What is international support?
International support refers to assistance or backing provided by countries or organizations to another country, especially in times of crisis or conflict.
