Zelenskyy dismisses Iranian threats: Not a new reality for us

By Yusuf İnan | Wise News Press

KYIV, UKRAINE — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed recent threats from Tehran declaring Ukraine a "legitimate military target," stating that his nation remains undeterred by such blackmail and intimidation tactics.

The tension arises after an Iranian official targeted Kyiv in response to Ukraine's technical assistance in countering Iranian combat drones. Zelenskyy emphasized that these external pressures and manufactured red lines will not alter the nation's defense strategies.

Tehran's military target declaration

According to the News Desk, Ebrahim Azizi, Chairman of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, recently issued a direct threat against Ukraine, which continues to fight against the Russian invasion. Azizi claimed that Ukrainian territory has become a "legitimate military target" for Iran due to the assistance Ukraine provides in countering unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

"We are not afraid of such statements"

In an interview with the Israel-based i24news channel, President Zelenskyy evaluated the threats from the Tehran administration, emphasizing that Ukrainian society has grown immune to such rhetoric. Noting that they have repeatedly heard similar threats during the 12 years of Russian aggression and the four years of the full-scale invasion, Zelenskyy stated:

"I have heard many different messages over these four years. We are not afraid of such statements because we have lived with this reality every day for at least four years, and generally for twelve years. So this is not news to us."

Underlining that the blackmail policies put forward by the Kremlin and its allies will not affect Ukraine's defense strategy, the President reiterated that they are aware of all risks and that external pressures will not dictate state policies.

Drone defense assistance in the Middle East

The background to the developments that drew the ire of the Tehran administration lies in the technological support Ukraine has provided to the region. In a statement on March 9, 2026, President Zelenskyy announced that following a request for assistance by the United States, Ukrainian drone experts and special interceptor systems had been dispatched to the Middle East to counter Iranian drone attacks in the region.

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