Iran FM won’t give up pledge to protect country's interests

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said he made a pledge to protect the country’s interests, which he “will not abandon until the end”.

In a post on Instagram, Zarif addressed the “misunderstanding” caused by the leaked audio recording in which he is heard saying the military was too influential in diplomacy.

The official said the discussion was a private conversation aimed at transferring his eight-year experience in foreign diplomacy to future officials.

“Unfortunately, some people used this conversation for personal criticism,” he said, stressing that he takes pride in his over two decade friendship with the late Quds Force commander, Qasem Soleimani.

According to Zarif, peace in Afghanistan and Iraq would not have been achieved, and Daesh terrorism would not have ended, had it not been for Soleimani’s vigilance and courage, and the sacrifices of the people of these two countries.

“For 40 years, I have sought to be diligent in analyses and I have always adhered to the country’s established policies and defended them vigorously,” he added.

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