Tweet
Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif claimed in recently leaked audio that John Kerry, when he was serving as Secretary of State during the Obama administration, informed him of more than 200 Israeli operations in Syria.
Kerry has previously been accused of colluding with Iranian leaders to undermine the Trump administration. Kerry is now a part of the Biden administration and has a seat on the National Security Council as the special presidential envoy for climate.
Kerry has previously been accused of colluding with Iranian leaders to undermine the Trump administration. Kerry is now a part of the Biden administration and has a seat on the National Security Council as the special presidential envoy for climate.
Hopefully Kerry seat getting a little "global warming" from this.
Zarif told the interviewer, economist Saeed Laylaz, that Soleimani on multiple occasions dictated what Zarif should try to accomplish in negotiations.
"I sacrificed diplomacy for the battlefield," Zarif is quoted as saying. "Every time I went to negotiate, Commander Soleimani would tell me to request this and that."
"I sacrificed diplomacy for the battlefield," Zarif is quoted as saying. "Every time I went to negotiate, Commander Soleimani would tell me to request this and that."
He added that Iran gave up much of what it "could have achieved from the nuclear deal" for the sake of advancement on the battlefield.
He said Mr Soleimani refused to stop using the national carrier Iran Air for Syrian operations despite Mr Zarif's objections.
Iran Air has been sanctioned by the US, exacerbating a long-running crisis that forced it to fly decades-old aircraft, often lacking parts for repairs.
Despite his criticism, Mr Zarif acknowledged Mr Soleimani's importance in Iran.
He said Mr Soleimani refused to stop using the national carrier Iran Air for Syrian operations despite Mr Zarif's objections.
Iran Air has been sanctioned by the US, exacerbating a long-running crisis that forced it to fly decades-old aircraft, often lacking parts for repairs.
Despite his criticism, Mr Zarif acknowledged Mr Soleimani's importance in Iran.
"I believe that the US by hitting Martyr Soleimani dealt a blow to Iran that would not have been as bad even if they had hit one of our towns," he said.
Comment