Iran foreign minister Araghchi calls Zelensky 'confused clown,' accuses him of exploiting West

Araghchi labels Zelensky 'confused clown' publicly

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi launched a personal attack on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, days after Zelensky accused Iran’s leadership of killing its own citizens to maintain power.

Responding on X, Araghchi dismissed Zelensky as a “confused clown” and accused him of exploiting Western support. “The world has had enough of Confused Clowns, Mr. Zelensky,” Araghchi wrote, claiming the Ukrainian leader had been “rinsing American and European taxpayers to fill the pockets of his corrupt generals.”

He added that Iranians knew how to defend themselves and had “no need to beg foreigners for help.”

.@ZelenskyyUa has been rinsing American and European taxpayers to fill the pockets of his corrupt generals and to confront what he calls an unlawful aggression in violation of the UN Charter. At the same time, he openly and unashamedly calls for unlawful U.S. aggression against… pic.twitter.com/a8wWmXzWno

— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) January 23, 2026

Zelensky had made the remarks that provoked Tehran while speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Thursday. Referring to unrest in Iran, he said that if the country’s clerical leadership survived the violence, it would send a dangerous global signal.

“If the regime survives, it sends a clear signal to every bully: kill enough people, and you stay in power,” Zelensky said.

Ukraine has been battling a full-scale Russian invasion for nearly four years. Iran, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Russia recently moved to strengthen bilateral ties. Ukraine and Western governments have accused Tehran of supplying drones and ballistic missiles to Russia for use in the war, allegations Iran has repeatedly denied.

Zelensky also criticised what he called Western inaction over the violence in Iran. “There was so much talk about the protests in Iran but they drowned in blood. The world has not helped enough the Iranian people; it has stood aside,” he said in English.

He added that by the time politicians returned from Christmas and New Year holidays, “the ayatollah has already killed thousands.”

Iranian authorities have reported more than 3,000 deaths during protests against the Islamic Republic, blaming the unrest on the United States and Israel. Human rights groups dispute the official figures, estimating the death toll could be as high as 20,000, noting that verification has been hampered by a prolonged internet shutdown in Iran.