Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, now the Biden administration’s special envoy on climate issues. (Web Screenshot)
Recently, according to a leaked audio recording, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Zarif alleged that former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, President Biden’s climate envoy, leaked to him military intelligence about more than 200 Israeli attacks on Iranian facilities in Syria. Several U.S. dignitaries have called for an investigation of Kerry after learning of the allegations.
The recording obtained by The New York Times captures a three-hour conversation detailing the inner workings of the Iranian government. The recording also records Zarif saying he was surprised by the intelligence Kerry revealed about Israel.
According to the Times, Zarif said in the recording that “he was surprised when former Secretary of State Kerry told him that Israel had attacked Iranian facilities in Syria at least 200 times.”
Zarif also spoke of Russia’s desire to prevent the Obama administration from signing a nuclear deal with Iran. He added, “If Iran had not been a priority option for former President Trump, then China and Russia would have been a priority option for Iran. Because of being an enemy of the West, Iran always needs the support of Russia and China.”
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said in a statement that the recording “was not an interview from the beginning …… was part of a routine and confidential conversation within the government.”
Florida U.S. Sen. Rick Scott (R), along with other Republicans, called the allegations “deeply troubling. Scott said that if true, the incident “clearly demonstrates why the United States can no longer participate in the failed Iran nuclear deal negotiations.
President Biden must revoke all access to Kerry’s national security intelligence and related briefings until we have clarity and the truth,” Scott said. If these allegations are true, he must resign.”
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan (D-Mich.) tweeted, “If this is true, it is treason and Kerry needs to leave office.” “This is a criminal act and John Kerry must be investigated and prosecuted immediately.”
U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (D-Mich.) tweeted, “President Biden must immediately remove John Kerry from any government or advisory position.”
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (R-Texas) called for a formal investigation into the leaked audio. He told the Washington Free Beacon that the tape proves what he has believed for years: that Zarif has been in contact with Kerry on policy issues between the two countries.
Pompeo said, “Until we reach a deal with Iran that reduces the security of Americans, it would be good to know what arrangements might be in place between these two leaders.”
Wisconsin U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher (R) said, “It is incomprehensible that any American diplomat, past or present, would leak information to the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism at the expense of one of our staunchest allies (Israel).”
Fox News has also previously reported on Kerry’s alleged collusion with Iran during the Trump (Trump) presidency to undermine Trump’s efforts to ease U.S.-Iran relations.
According to the Associated Press, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh did not deny the authenticity of the leaks after they became public.
On Monday, April 26, Kerry tweeted that the allegations were “patently false. He added, “Nothing like this happened when I was Secretary of State or since.”
On Monday, the State Department also said that former Secretary of State Kerry did not share any secret information when he briefed Iran’s secretary of state on Israel’s more than 200 operations in Syria.
In 2015, under former President Barack Obama, the U.S. reached a nuclear nonproliferation agreement with Iran. The agreement sparked heated debate. Supporters argue that it provides a way to mitigate Iranian nuclear proliferation, while opponents argue that the deal may be unconstitutional and not tough enough on Iran, a rogue state.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, for his part, denounced the Iran Nuclear Deal as “the worst negotiated agreement ever” and withdrew from it in 2018.
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