Ukraine has officially condemned the violence of the Iranian authorities against protesters and called on the international community for decisive action.

Ukraine called on the international community to increase pressure on the Iranian regime due to violence against protesters and parallel support for Russia’s war against Ukraine. This was stated on January 10, 2025, by the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andriy Sybiha, linking internal repression in Iran and external aggression as part of one line — a policy of violence and disregard for human dignity.

According to the minister, Iranians deserve protection of basic civil rights — access to information, freedom of assembly, and the right to a normal life without fear. Kyiv emphasizes: Ukraine’s experience, which went through the breakdown of a totalitarian and authoritarian model, makes the topic of civil liberties not an abstract declaration, but a principle directly related to security in Europe and the Middle East.

Sybiha also appealed to the authorities of Iran with a call to refrain from violence against protest participants.

And separately — to the world.

The Ukrainian position is that repression against its own population and support for the Russian war are not two different plots, but the same mechanism: suppression within the country and export of threats outside. Therefore, Kyiv believes that increasing pressure on Tehran should be considered as a tool to protect people in Iran and at the same time as a factor influencing the course of the war in Ukraine.

The context of this reaction is the ongoing mass protests in Iran since December 28. Initially, the trigger was the collapse of the national currency and a sharp rise in prices: traders at the Grand Bazaar in Tehran went on strike, then the protests spread to many regions. It was reported that ten days later, protesters took control of two cities in the west of the country, which is a particularly sensitive signal for the Iranian system.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei acknowledged the existence of economic problems but explained them as the “work of the enemy.” At the same time, his statements included a stance on harsh suppression: according to him, it is pointless to talk with “rioters,” they “need to be put in their place.”

Amid clashes and dispersals, it was reported that more than 50 people had died.

For Israel, Europe, and the USA, such a crisis in Iran is not only a human rights issue but also a matter of regional stability. The more the regime corners society, the higher the likelihood of radicalization, internal purges, and external provocations, and thus the higher the risk that the Iranian factor will more actively influence security around Israel and support Russia in the war against Ukraine.

Kyiv essentially proposes considering pressure on the Iranian regime as part of a general strategy: protecting civil rights in Iran, limiting Tehran’s ability to help Russia, and reducing threats in the Middle East. NANews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency notes that in 2026, the link “internal repression + external aggression” increasingly becomes a common formula for authoritarian alliances — and ignoring it means allowing problems to grow in several regions at once.