Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a “confused clown” in response to Zelensky’s claim that Iran’s government kills civilians to stay in power. The remarks were made in a post on social media platform X, according to NDTV, on January 25, 2026.

Araghchi accused Zelensky of using U.S. and European taxpayers’ money to enrich himself and corrupt generals in his army. He wrote that Iranians know how to defend themselves and do not need to beg foreigners for help. Araghchi further alleged that Zelensky was exploiting the “illegal aggression” against Ukraine as an excuse to misuse Western funds while simultaneously calling for U.S. military attacks on Iran, which he said would violate the same UN Charter.

Addressing Zelensky directly, Araghchi said the world is tired of “confused clowns” like him and contrasted Iran’s self-reliance with what he described as Ukraine’s foreign-backed forces.