Tehran, Iran – Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has publicly rebuked Iran’s high diplomat for his feedback on inner energy struggles in a controversial audiotape leaked final week.
Khamenei stated throughout a televised speech on Sunday that he was “stunned and sorry” to listen to Mohammad Javad Zarif’s feedback on late Main Normal Qassem Soleimani’s energy and affect, with out straight naming the diplomat.
“A few of these feedback are the repetition of the hostile talks of our enemies, the repetition of the phrases of America,” he stated, mentioning that media against Iran launched the tape.
Greater than three hours of what was alleged to be a seven-hour confidential authorities oral historical past challenge was aired by Saudi Arabia-funded channel Iran Worldwide primarily based in London.
Within the tape, Zarif stated he repeatedly needed to “sacrifice” diplomacy for what he refers to as “the sphere” – denoting operations and politics pushed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and particularly its outward-looking Quds Power led by Soleimani till his assassination by the USA final yr.
Zarif additionally says Soleimani travelled to Russia to sabotage Iran’s 2015 nuclear take care of world powers shortly after it was signed and complains that he was left at nighttime on many points, together with Iran’s operations in Syria and Iraq.
Khamenei on Sunday referred to the fixed opposition of the US to Iran’s rising affect within the area, saying that was why former President Donald Trump ordered Soleimani’s assassination through a drone strike in January 2020 in Baghdad.
“We shouldn’t say issues that may convey the that means that we’re repeating what they’re saying, whether or not on the Quds Power or on martyr Soleimani,” the supreme chief stated.
He additionally asserted that like in every single place else on the earth, the international coverage of Iran will not be crafted by the international ministry, and is merely enforced by it.
That responsibility in Iran, he stated, falls on the Supreme Nationwide Safety Council that’s comprised of top-level officers from completely different factions of governance.
The top for Zarif?
Khamenei’s remarks will definitely additional embolden hardliners who’ve been unstoppable in bashing the international minister – and the federal government – and calling for his resignation.
Whereas it seems unlikely Zarif will resign, particularly since his time period ends in a number of months and talks to revive the nuclear deal are ongoing in Vienna, the supreme chief’s rebuke of him casts a shadow over his future in Iranian politics.
The international minister, a comparatively widespread determine among the many weakened centrist and reformist factions, has repeatedly stated he has no ambitions to change into a candidate within the upcoming June presidential election.
The profession diplomat had beforehand stated he is likely to be fascinated with persevering with to serve on the international ministry, or else will possible retreat to a college educating position.
Earlier on Sunday, Zarif apologised to Soleimani’s household for the damage he could have triggered them, and stated his “trustworthy” phrases meant for future officers don’t take away something from Soleimani’s efforts to maintain Iran and the area protected.
In a web-based put up days earlier, he had stated his feedback weren’t meant as private criticism of Soleimani, whom he credited for striving to ascertain peace in Afghanistan and Iraq and preventing the ISIL (ISIS) armed group.
Zarif printed one other on-line put up following Khamenei’s speech, saying the supreme chief’s remarks are an finish level to all discussions and he’s sorry that his feedback meant as “trustworthy switch of experiences” have been leaked and disturbed Khamenei’s peace of thoughts.
President Rouhani had stated earlier this week the audiotape’s leak was an try at sowing division by the nation’s enemies to sabotage multilateral efforts in Austria’s capital to raise sanctions on Iran and curb the nation’s nuclear programme.
Rouhani ordered his intelligence ministry to search out out who leaked the tape, and related efforts are beneath method within the judiciary and the parliament.
The president additionally fired Hesamodin Ashna, his adviser and head of the presidential places of work’ Heart for Strategic Research, since he was accountable for organising the interview carried out with Zarif.