Behind the Headlines/July 12

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says Iran’s foreign policy has resulted in political isolation of Washington and the next step is to isolate US economically. How much truth is in this claim?

Britain is sending a second warship to the Persian Gulf amid rising tensions with Iran, as it said it was discussing with the US the possibility of building up its military presence in the area. 

Our guest tonight to discuss these issues is Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh.

Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh:

You mentioned Mr Zarif’s claims but there is always a difference between claims and realities.

Once upon atime after the signing of the nuclear deal Zarif had been portrayed as the “new Amir Kabir of Iran”, or the “second Mossadeq”.

However, today when he speaks he loses his nerves, which is against the very basic rule of being a foreign minister speaking to the world.

Then we have Mr Mike Pompeo who coolly smiles and tells the rulers of the regime that the US is serious about dealing with them and would not retreat from its tough policy, never mind what Mr Zarif says.

In reality,from the top to the bottom of the people involved in Iran’s foreign policy making are a group of ineffective and wrong people in the wrong job. I am very sorry that the foreign policy of our nations has been handed to them.

Part of theproblem with the people at the helm of Iran’s foreign policy making circle goes back to their personality and ideological beliefs.

In other countries if a foreign minister does not necessarily agree with their government’s overall policies they would respectfully resign and leave their post. But in Iran anyone found with the slightest opposition to the foreignpolicy of the country would be sacked and humilated as we have seen on manyoccasions in the past, particularly during the Ahmadinejad’s administration, when Manouchehr Mottaki was fired while on the plane to Senegal to represent Iran in an international conference.