An audio file of Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif’s statement was released yesterday (25), confirming that Iranian diplomats are under severe diplomatic restrictions. In the recording, Zarif said there was military interference in diplomacy, including the assassination of Qassem Soleimani, the commander of Iran’s elite Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guards.
According to foreign media reports, the three-hour-long audio file was recorded by Chariff during a secret interview on Feb. 24 of this year. In the recording, Chariff said Soleimani would often instruct him on what to do diplomatically. Chariff also said, “But this instead undermines Iran’s diplomatic relations with other countries, like working with Russia on actions such as undermining Iran’s ‘nuclear deal’ with other world powers and waging a long war against Syria, which also undermines Iran’s interests.”
Chariff also said, “In Iran, the military is the rule itself. I have sacrificed diplomacy for the military, not for substantive services.”
According to reports, the audio file was released just as Iran was trying to discuss with the United States and other powers the possibility of resuming a “nuclear deal.” Iran’s Foreign Ministry has not denied the authenticity of the recording, but has questioned the motives behind its release.
In addition, there were many opponents in Iran yesterday evening who said that Chariff should resign for revealing Iran’s internal politics to the world, which has threatened Iran’s national security. Some analysts also pointed out that “this audio file will make Iran in diplomatic negotiations, reduce the authority.”
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