Politics

Zelensky meets exiled Iranian opposition figure Reza Pahlavi

2 min read
Zelensky meets exiled Iranian opposition figure Reza Pahlavi
President Volodymyr Zelensky meets key Iranian opposition figure Reza Pahlavi in Paris on March 13, 2026. (Volodymyr Zelensky/Telegram)

President Volodymyr Zelensky met exiled Iranian opposition figure Reza Pahlavi in Paris on March 13 to discuss the U.S.-Iran war.

"The regime's hierarchy has indeed already suffered significant losses, and it is crucial that the Iranian regime gains nothing from this and that the people of Iran have greater protection for their lives and more opportunities to determine their own fate," Zelensky said in a post to X afterwards.

Iran's former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed following Israeli-U.S. strikes, Iranian state media confirmed on March 1. The U.S. and Israel first began joint strikes on Iran in the early hours of Feb. 28.

The former Supreme Leader's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been selected by Iran's Assembly of Experts to become the country's next supreme leader, Iranian state media announced on March 8.

The two discussed the current situation in the Middle East, and Pahlavi shared the "signals" he has received from within Iran, Zelensky noted.

"Ukraine truly wants to see a free Iran that will not cooperate with Russia or destabilize the Middle East, Europe, and the world. I am grateful to the Crown Prince for his clear assurances of support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Our teams will remain in communication," Zelensky said.

Zelensky and Pahlavi previously met on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 13 amid widespread anti-government protests in Iran.

Pahlavi is the son of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the country's last monarch overthrown during the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Avatar
Volodymyr Ivanyshyn

News Editor

Volodymyr Ivanyshyn is a news editor for The Kyiv Independent. He is pursuing an Honors Bachelor of Arts at the University of Toronto, majoring in political science with a minor in anthropology and human geography. Volodymyr holds a Certificate in Business Fundamentals from Rotman Commerce at the University of Toronto. He previously completed an internship with The Kyiv Independent.

Read more
News Feed

During a meeting with Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal on July 12, President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed the need to take additional "more decisive" steps to protect Ukraine's energy infrastructure and emphasized the importance of robust winter preparedness plans for communities and regions.

 (Updated:  )

Yulia Svyrydenko, who replaced former Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in July 2025, will now take on a new role leading cooperation with Ukraine’s key partners, Zelensky announced on social media.

Video

Once promoted by the Kremlin as a symbol of Russia’s resurgence and a premier tourist destination, the peninsula now faces mounting pressure from Ukrainian drone strikes targeting military infrastructure, logistics, and supply routes.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on July 11 that he is preparing changes to Ukraine’s “diplomatic efforts” to accelerate weapons deliveries from allies, as Ukraine's stockpile of Patriot air defense missiles has run dry.

Show More