Iran: a relative of Rohani dismissed after the leak of a confidential interview with Javad Zarif
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif on February 23, 2021. AP - Vahid Salemi
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Four days after the "leak" of a confidential interview, as part of a historical memory project, with the head of diplomacy Mohammad Javad Zarif in which he implicitly criticized the weight of the military in foreign policy, a close friend of Hassan Rouhani was removed from his post and twenty people were banned from leaving Iranian territory.
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With our correspondent in Tehran,
Siavosh Ghazi
In this interview, which was to remain secret, Mohammad Javad Zarif criticized the Revolutionary Guards, stating in particular that
General Qassem Soleimani was
sacrificing diplomacy to carry out his policy in the region, particularly in Syria and Iraq.
Since then, the conservatives have continued to denounce the publication of this interview in Iranian media abroad and some have called for the resignation of the head of diplomacy.
In this context, an investigation was opened by Justice and twenty people involved in this recording were banned from leaving Iranian territory.
Likewise, the head of the Center for Strategic Studies, a close advisor to President Hassan Rohani, at the origin of this project, was dismissed from his post.
Mohammad Javad Zarif, for his part, was summoned to parliament.
The Conservatives accuse the foreign minister of making statements that contradict the country's policy.
► To read also: Audio recording of Javad Zarif: the Iranian executive denounces the desire to create "discord"
This real political bomb exploded in the midst of negotiations with the great powers in order to allow the lifting of American sanctions.
It also comes less than two months before the presidential election when Mohammad Javad Zarif seems to be the reformers' main candidate.
For the Conservatives, the publication of this interview, which was to remain confidential, signifies the political death of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
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Iran
Hassan Rouhani