His Interview Was Leaked, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Harshly Criticized The Iranian Foreign Minister

JAKARTA - Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei criticized the statements of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who in an interview called the Iranian Revolutionary Guards elite as more influential than himself, in terms of foreign and nuclear affairs.

This criticism is linked to Zarif's interview with a London-based Persian-language Iranian satellite news channel that was leaked last week, in which Zarif said he had no influence over Iran's foreign policy.

In recent years, Zarif has become the face of Iranian diplomacy on a number of issues, including talks related to the 2015's Nuclear Agreement.

Meanwhile, relations between President Hassan Rouhani's pragmatic government and Iran's Revolutionary Guards are risky, as hardline influence can affect relations with the West.

In his televised address, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei did not name Zarif but did not mention his comments, "This is a grave mistake that an official of the Islamic Republic should not make."

"There is no place in the world the foreign ministry determines foreign policy. There are high-ranking officials who make decisions and policies. Of course, the foreign ministry is also involved", Khamanei said imitating Zarif's comments, as reported by Reuters, Monday, May 3.

In a post on Instagram following Khamenei's speech, Zarif apologized for the comments that had 'disturbed' the country's highest authority, which has the final say on all state matters.

For information, Iran has imposed a travel ban on 15 people for allegedly involved in the leaked audio recording, which authorities say was made for state records and not for publication.

Using language rarely heard in Iranian politics, Zarif complained in interviews about the extent to which the late top Iranian Revolutionary Guards top brass Qassem Soleimani, leader of the Quds Force, had on foreign policy while hinting that Soleimani was trying to undermine the 2015 nuclear deal by colluding with Russia.

A key figure in building Iran's network of proxy soldiers in the Middle East, Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike in Iraq last year.

"The Quds Force has been able to carry out the Islamic Republic's independent policy in the region, which is based on honor," stressed Khamenei.

To note, although Zarif has repeatedly said he has no intention of running in next month's presidential election, his name has been proposed by moderates as a possible candidate for the election. Several prominent Guard commanders are also running for top executive positions.

Some critics say Zarif's comments on the tape are aimed at drawing voices from Iranians disillusioned by the stalled economy and lack of political and social freedoms.