ANALYSIS: A Common Front Against Tyranny: Zelensky and Prince Reza Pahlavi Meet in Munich

President Volodymyr Zelensky met in Munich with Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi on Feb. 14, in a meeting that carried significance well beyond diplomatic protocol. Their conversation underscored a growing moral and political alignment between two nations confronting different yet interconnected threats to freedom and sovereignty.

As Moscow and Tehran deepen their strategic cooperation, the meeting between Zelensky and Pahlavi represents a counter-message: solidarity among those who seek freedom.

For Ukraine, the war has become not only a fight for territory but a stand for democratic principles on a global scale. For Iran’s opposition, international backing is increasingly seen as essential in confronting a regime that continues to repress its own people while projecting instability abroad.

External and internal threats

Following the meeting, Reza Pahlavi highlighted the different nature of the dangers facing their nations: Ukraine confronts an external military aggression, Iran faces an internal authoritarian regime.

Yet, he noted, both peoples are united by their courage and their determination to defend freedom.

Pahlavi expressed gratitude for Ukraine’s support of the Iranian people and voiced readiness for deeper cooperation in the struggle for liberty.

A message in Persian

In a notable gesture, Zelensky later published a message in Persian. In it, he expressed solidarity with the Iranian people, condemned the regime’s repression, emphasized the need for tougher sanctions, denounced military cooperation between Russia and Iran, including drone supplies and licensing for domestic production in Russia. 

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He also thanked Pahlavi for supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity and affirmed that Ukraine stands ready to assist in efforts aimed at saving lives.

“Dictatorial regimes must not be given time”

Zelensky said on Saturday at the Munich Security Conference that the Iranian regime should not be given more time. 

Speaking about Iran, Zelensky drew a direct parallel to Feb. 24, 2022 – the day Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

He said that today, the Iranian people expect from the world what Ukrainians needed on that day: unity, determination, and speed – above all, speed.

“Ukraine does not share a border with Iran,” he told the Munich Security Conference. “We have never had a conflict of interests with the Iranian regime. But the Iranian Shahed drones they sold to Russia are killing our people and destroying our infrastructure.”

According to Zelensky, regimes like the one in Tehran must not be allowed time to maneuver.

“Regimes like the one in Iran must not be given time, when they have time, they only kill more,” he said. “They must be stopped immediately. And this is exactly what should have happened with the Ayatollah – after all the wars his regime unleashed and all the lives it took – and with Putin as well: after the war in Georgia, after Syria, after 2014 and the occupation of Crimea.”