Punishing Iranian minister, Trump muddies path to talks
Senior administration officials described the foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif - an American-educated diplomat who is well connected throughout the US - as the "propaganda arm" of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei[2]. But with Zarif sidelined, it was unclear who else might serve as an experienced intermediary for Tehran in any potential talks. The administration has already imposed sanctions on the country's remaining power centers, Khamenei and the elite military organisation, the Revolutionary Guard.
Trump administration officials did not indicate whether they would seek to bar Zarif from visiting the UN, although they appear to favour doing so. During meetings there two weeks ago, he gave interviews to TV networks and met with reporters, made what appeared to be an opening bid for diplomacy with the US and expressed amusement at rumours that the administration was seeking to penalise him.
Those interviews angered secretary of state Mike Pompeo and other officials, who argued that he was abusing his visa, which limits him to meetings associated with the UN and restricts his movements to three buildings. "Foreign Minister Zarif is a key enabler of Ayatollah Khamenei's policies throughout the region and around the world," Pompeo said i late on Wednesday. "The designation of Javad Zarif today reflects this reality."
Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin, who had hinted at the move weeks ago, said it was intended to send a message to Iran: "Javad Zarif implements the reckless agenda of Iran's supreme leader and is the regime's primary spokesperson around the world."
Iran's president Hassan Rouhani lambasted the sanctions targeting Zarif, describing the move as "childish". "They have started doing childish things. Every day they claim: 'We want to negotiate with Iran, without any pre-conditions', and then they put sanctions on the country's foreign minister." The EU expressed its regret and said it would continue to keep contact with Zarif regardless of Washington's move. "We will continue to work with Mr. Zarif, as Iran's most senior diplomat, and in view of the importance of maintaining diplomatic channels," European Commission spokesman Carlos Martin Ruiz de Gordejuela said.
[1][3][4]
References
- ^ Trump (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
- ^ Ali Khamenei (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
- ^ Mike Pompeo (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
- ^ Steven Mnuchin (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
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