General Soleimani Supports Zarif after US Sanction

TEHRAN (defapress) – Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force Major General Qassem Soleimani threw his weight behind Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif after the top diplomat was blacklisted by the US government.

News ID: 78286

Date: 06 August 2019 - 14:17

Major General Soleimani went to the Foreign Ministry in uniform on Tuesday morning and held a meeting with Foreign Minister Zarif, voicing support for the top Iranian diplomat and slamming the “lunatic” US move to impose sanction on Zarif as a “certain sign of defeat of the White House.”

“The US move proved that you, as the person in charge of the country’s foreign policy, have a great influence on the public opinion and particularly on the American people when it comes to the US leaders’ ignorance,” the IRGC general added.

Major General Soleimani also praised Zarif for his honesty and courage in protecting the national interests, and congratulated the foreign minister on becoming a target of the US anger and animosity because of affiliation with Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei.

On Wednesday, the US Department of State said Washington has designated Zarif for acting on behalf of Ayatollah Khamenei. The US president had issued an executive order on June 24, imposing sanctions on the Leader and his office and authorizing sanctions on others associated with Ayatollah Khamenei.

The senior Iranian diplomat has dismissed the US move, saying that being designated by the US would not affect him since he has ho properties outside Iran.

“We know that calling for dialog & peace is an existential threat to B-Team. And since reason for designating me is my words, would ‘US persons’ need OFAC license to ‘engage’ with me by reading my writings or listening to interviews?” Zarif said in a Twitter post.

The Iranian foreign minister has received widespread public support and backing from the authorities after being blacklisted by the US.

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