Iran's exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi says Iranians stand in solidarity with Ukraine unlike “the dictatorial regime” of the Islamic Republic.

In a letter to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Pahlavi said that “the freedom loving people of Iran have defied regime threats and violence to protest the [Russian] invasion and show that they stand with the people of Ukraine”.

“While governments around the world rightly rally to your aid and people of every creed stand in solidarity with your own, the dictatorship in my country, Iran, has stood with those who have violated your territorial integrity and attempted to usurp Ukraine’s sovereignty”, he said.

Pahlavi added that the people of Iran “know the struggle of confronting a dictator as we stand up for freedom”, expressing hope that “when both our nations are free again, we will be partners for peace and prosperity”.

On Wednesday, the Islamic Republic abstained from voting for a UN General Assembly resolution deploring the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Iran’s president and other officials have supported Russia’s move by blaming the United States and NATO for provoking the invasion.

Hundreds of Iranians on social media have been expressing anger at the invasion and criticizing the government’s position. Some are attacking Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, calling him a lackey of Russia.