May 3, 2021
2 mins read

Iranian FM apologises for leaked audio

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has publicly slammed Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif for his comments….reports Asian Lite News

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8c16Hmiz9c

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has apologised for critical remarks he was heard saying about the country’s political system in a leaked audio recording.

“I would like to apologise to everyone,” dpa nws agency quoted Zarif, one of Iran’s most high-profile figures and who has been Foreign Minister since 2013, as saying in a social media post on Sunday.

Zarif said he regretted comments he made in which he complained about the interference of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a branch of the armed forces, in diplomatic affairs.

The remarks came in an interview conducted by one of President Hassan Rouhani’s advisers.

The audio tape was allegedly stolen by “inner circles” and then published by Persian-language news outlets abroad.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Later on Sunday, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei criticized Zarif for his comments.

“We have heard statements in recent days that were very regrettable,” Khamenei said in a televised speech.

He said the remarks resembled US criticism of the IRGC.

Also read:UK condemns new sentence for dual citizen in Iran

“If someone wants to run for the presidency, they must follow the Iranian Constitution and its Islamic principles, otherwise he is not suitable for the post,” Khamenei said.

Zarif is considered a potential candidate in next month’s presidential election.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani

The scandal has dominated the front pages of Iranian newspapers for days as it seemed to suggest a rift among the country’s leadership ahead of the vote.

Rouhani, who cannot run for re-election, said the leak was a tactic by hardliners to help them win over voters as well as to hinder ongoing nuclear negotiations.

“Why are certain things happening just when we are on the verge of success in the nuclear negotiations in Vienna?” the President queried.

Talks continue in Vienna to revive a deal aimed at softening Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

The US left the framework under former US President Donald Trump but is working to rejoin and needs Iran to agree.

General Soleimani(wikipedia)

According to Rouhani, the hardliners want to sabotage the nuclear negotiations and thus preserve their chances before the presidential election.

For his part, Zarif said he had not given a “classic interview” but a “theoretical exchange of views” about strategy with a member of the presidential office.

Part of what made Zarif’s candid remarks so explosive was his criticism of Qasem Soleimani.

Soleimani, the commander of the Guards’ elite Quds Force, was killed in a US attack in Baghdad in January 2020.

Also read:Iran welcomes rapprochement with Saudi

Previous Story

UK considers abolishing quarantine for Covid contact

Next Story

Boris, Modi to hold virtual summit

Latest from -Top News

Afghan-Pak tensions threaten South Asian stability

The Afghanistan-Pakistan fighting has impacted civilians on both sides, with people fleeing the border areas while daily movement and trade has been disrupted…reports Asian Lite News The recent tensions between Afghanistan and

Fourth AUSTRAHIND exercise begins in Australia

Primary focus of this year’s exercise is “joint company level counter-terrorism operations in urban terrain and semi urban terrain…reports Asian Lite News The fourth edition of the India-Australia joint military exercise, AUSTRAHIND,

Sanae Takaichi makes history in Japan

From 2022 to 2024, Takaichi was Japan’s Economic Security Minister. She also holds the record as the longest-serving Minister for Internal Affairs…reports Asian Lite News Sanae Takaichi was elected Japan’s next Prime

Cabinet of Japan PM Ishiba steps down

After the prime ministerial vote, Takaichi will finalise cabinet appointments, and the chief cabinet secretary is scheduled to announce the lineup….reports Asian Lite News Outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba resigned with
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Iran reopens embassy in Riyadh

In March, Saudi Arabia and Iran reached in Beijing, China

Iran offers lifeline to Russian banks

Iran says all Russian banks and 106 banks in 13