Chanting “death to Putin,” a crowd of Iranians defied their government, an ally of Russia, by protesting outside the Ukrainian Embassy in Tehran on Saturday night, according to videos posted on social media.
The protest’s organizers had issued a call for people to join a public condemnation of the war in Ukraine and show solidarity with its people. The demonstrators waved Ukrainian flags, clapped their hands and shouted, “Long live Ukraine” and “The Russian Embassy is a den of spies.” Security guards watched over the crowd, which included children, but did not interfere, videos showed.
There had also been calls to demonstrate outside the Russian Embassy, but there was no indication that protesters had gathered there. A photograph shared on social media showed members of the Iranian special forces on motorcycles guarding the Russian Embassy and blocking access to its gates.
The Iranian government has not outright endorsed the invasion of Ukraine, but it has expressed support for Russia’s position. That appears to be deepening the growing rift between Iran’s leaders and its people. Many Iranians harbor deep mistrust of Russia and have expressed outrage on social media about the government’s attitude toward the war.
State media outlets have used the Kremlin’s terminology when reporting on the war, calling it “a special military operation,” not an invasion. A conservative former lawmaker in Iran, Ali Mottahari, wrote on Twitter that state broadcasters were reporting the news “like one of Russia’s colonies.”
“Iran must show its independence by condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” Mr. Mottahari wrote.
A popular Iranian newspaper, Shahrvand, which is owned by the Iranian Red Crescent, ran a photo of President Vladimir V. Putin in emperor’s clothes, with the headline “King Putin: Is the former K.G.B. officer taking the world into a new Cold War?” The newspaper said the Red Crescent was ready to provide medical assistance to Ukraine.
With the Iranian economy crippled by U.S. sanctions imposed after President Donald J. Trump’s administration pulled out of the international deal over Iran’s nuclear program in 2018, the Iranian government has been looking east for support and sees Russia as a key ally. The Foreign Ministry has said that it is forging new political and economic alliances and long-term partnerships with both Russia and China.
President Ebrahim Raisi spoke by telephone with Mr. Putin on Thursday, the day the invasion began. He told Mr. Putin that he hoped for “the best outcome for the people of the region,” according to a statement released by Iran’s government.
“NATO’s expansion east is a serious threat to the stability and security of independent countries in different regions,” Mr. Raisi was said to have told Mr. Putin, echoing one of the Russian leader’s stated reasons for instigating the war.
Russia’s foreign ministry promptly said on Twitter that Mr. Raisi had “expressed understanding” about Russia’s security concerns.
Iran is also counting on Russia to help it secure its interests as talks in Vienna with the United States about reviving the 2015 nuclear deal reach their final stages. The Russian envoy to the talks, Mikhail Ulyanov, has presented himself as a liaison between Iran and the West, posting regular updates and photos of the negotiations.
