Iranian businessman Babak Zanjani has criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, calling him a "comedian president" without management or economic background who turned his nation's fate into a tool for American and European powers, according to a social media post on January 23 on media platform X (formerly Twitter).

"Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukraine's comedian president, who had no background in macro management and economics, along with a circle of corrupt associates, turned the fate of his nation's economy, security and history into a tool for the power games of America and Europe," Zanjani wrote in Persian.

He said the results of these decisions included infrastructure destruction, displacement of millions, bereaved families and the collapse of a generation's future.

The cryptic outburst on social media by the previously jailed billionaire is likely a veiled reference to a possible power struggle at the top of Iran's hierarchy, amid rumours in recent weeks that the financial figure may be angling for a future position of power; however, he has never explicitly said so. 

"A president who has neither economic knowledge, nor effective negotiation capability, nor the power to run a country, inevitably drags his nation with him to the bottom of the well," Zanjani wrote.

The businessman said selecting a president and determining a country's future require nations to devote deep attention to examining records, management capability, independence of opinion, and individuals' real track record, as the cost of an incorrect choice is borne not by politicians but by people and future generations.

"There is also a big lesson for the Iranian nation," Zanjani concluded.

The comments come as Iran faces political and economic challenges including anti-government protests, a three-week internet shutdown and currency depreciation, with the rial trading at approximately IRR1,408,500 per US dollar after depreciating 22.7% since November 23.

He previously warned that mobile phones would connect to the global internet without requiring domestic infrastructure within a year, has been critical of government policies from prison, where he has been held since 2013 on corruption charges.

Zanjani is an Iranian businessman who was sentenced to death in 2016 on corruption charges related to oil sales during international sanctions. He was convicted of withholding $2.8bn owed to the Iranian government from oil deals conducted on behalf of the state. His death sentence was upheld by Iran's Supreme Court in 2017, though it has not been carried out.

He has claimed all rulings against him were quashed, but hardline newspapers continue to claim he is still under court proceedings.

Convicted of “spreading corruption on earth,” he initially faced execution, but his sentence was later commuted. Since regaining freedom, he has used social media to reposition himself as a victim of political timing – often tying his 2013 arrest to the eve of the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA) – and as a voice calling for economic liberalisation, investment, reduced internet restrictions, and competent young leadership in Iran.

Neither the Ukrainian nor the Iranian government nor international observers have yet responded to Zanjani’s comments.