Iran’s Khamenei reprimands foreign minister over leaked audiotape

The supreme leader’s comments cast a shadow over Foreign Minister Javad Zarif’s future in Iranian politics.

Tehran, Iran – Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has publicly rebuked Iran’s top diplomat for his comments on internal power struggles in a controversial audiotape leaked last week. Khamenei said during a televised speech on Sunday that he was “surprised and sorry” to hear Mohammad Javad Zarif’s comments on late Major General Qassem Soleimani’s power and influence, without directly naming the diplomat. “Some of these comments are the repetition of the hostile talks of our enemies, the repetition of the words of America,” he said, pointing out that media opposed to Iran released the tape.