TEHRAN, KOMPAS.TV – After coming under fire from Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif apologized directly and extensively on Sunday (02/05/2021) for the recorded comments leaked to the public last week, as reported by the Associated Press, Monday. , (03/05/2021)
The leaked tapes of Mohammad Javad Zarif cited the blunt assessment of the country’s internal power struggle and criticism of the late Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, sending shock waves across Iran less than two weeks before the presidential election.
Officials in Iran carefully considered their words amid a political environment involving the Revolutionary Guards who held strong positions and only reported to the country’s top leaders.
“I am very sorry,” Zarif said on Instagram, “some of my comments were stolen and published and abused by enemies of the state and the people, and that causes you, the highest leader, to feel regretful.”
The remarks came after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appeared to denounce Zarif in a televised address on Sunday.
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In his speech, Khamenei refrained from mentioning Zarif’s name. Yet he described it as “a huge mistake that an Islamic Republic official cannot commit”, while noting the leaked comments “are a repetition of what Iran’s enemies say.”
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