Former Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. FILE PHOTO

Investigation Into Leaked Zarif Tape Still Ongoing, Iran Says

Tuesday, 11/16/2021

Iran’s Judiciary announced Tuesday that an investigation into how a confidential recording from former foreign minister Javad Zarif was leaked is still ongoing.

Iran International published on April 25 a three-hour confidential interview with Zarif meant to remain in government archives, that led to a political storm in Iran.

In the interview Zarif spoke about the interference of the military in Iran’s foreign policy, specifically referring to the role of former IRGC Quds force commander Qasem Soleimani, who was killed by a US drone strike in Baghdad in January 2020.

At the time, President Hassan Rouhani ordered an investigation into who had leaked the tape to Iran International, which is not allowed to have a bureau or any presence in Iran.

The Judiciary’s spokesman told local media on Tuesday that many people have been interviewed about the leak, but the case is still pending.

In the interview Zarif had also mentioned that former US secretary of state John Kerry had divulged to him, possibly in 2017, that Israel was attacking Iranian targets in Syria. The information led to Congressional questions from Kerry, who denied ever having disclosed confidential information to Zarif.

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