Iran's former top diplomat, Mohammad Javad Zarif, is putting the record straight on Tehran's nuclear ambitions and its involvement in various proxy wars across the Middle East.
Zarif joins Al Jazeera's Ali Hashem for an on-the-record discussion about Iran's military and political presence in Syria, Gaza, Lebanon, and beyond. He sheds light on how his country has consistently defied efforts by US and Israeli forces to derail its nuclear program.
The former foreign minister reveals that resistance groups in Syria, led by the government of Bashar al-Assad, have played a significant role in Iran's regional influence. Zarif points out that these groups are not only fighting against external enemies but also against domestic opposition, illustrating how complex the dynamics of Iranian support become.
In the context of Gaza and Lebanon, Zarif explains that Iran is providing military aid to Hamas and Hezbollah, respectively, as part of its broader strategy to counter regional adversaries. These groups have long been supported by Iran, which views them as vital allies in a struggle against common enemies such as Saudi Arabia and Israel.
Despite claims from the US and other countries that Iran's nuclear ambitions have not been successful in ending with either regime change or military action, Zarif asserts that his country has successfully adapted to evade international sanctions. "The only way forward is by maintaining resistance and promoting unity among resistance groups," he emphasizes.
Throughout their conversation, Zarif demonstrates an unwavering dedication to Iranian national interests, even as the global landscape evolves. His responses offer a compelling glimpse into Iran's diplomatic strategies and its long-standing quest for regional preeminence.
Zarif joins Al Jazeera's Ali Hashem for an on-the-record discussion about Iran's military and political presence in Syria, Gaza, Lebanon, and beyond. He sheds light on how his country has consistently defied efforts by US and Israeli forces to derail its nuclear program.
The former foreign minister reveals that resistance groups in Syria, led by the government of Bashar al-Assad, have played a significant role in Iran's regional influence. Zarif points out that these groups are not only fighting against external enemies but also against domestic opposition, illustrating how complex the dynamics of Iranian support become.
In the context of Gaza and Lebanon, Zarif explains that Iran is providing military aid to Hamas and Hezbollah, respectively, as part of its broader strategy to counter regional adversaries. These groups have long been supported by Iran, which views them as vital allies in a struggle against common enemies such as Saudi Arabia and Israel.
Despite claims from the US and other countries that Iran's nuclear ambitions have not been successful in ending with either regime change or military action, Zarif asserts that his country has successfully adapted to evade international sanctions. "The only way forward is by maintaining resistance and promoting unity among resistance groups," he emphasizes.
Throughout their conversation, Zarif demonstrates an unwavering dedication to Iranian national interests, even as the global landscape evolves. His responses offer a compelling glimpse into Iran's diplomatic strategies and its long-standing quest for regional preeminence.
. I mean, I get it that Iran wants to protect its interests in the Middle East, but some of these proxy wars seem like they're just creating more problems than they're solving 
. Like, what's the end goal here? Is it really about countering Saudi Arabia and Israel, or is it about Iran just trying to keep itself relevant on the global stage 
?
. Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that they're sticking up for themselves and their allies, but sometimes you've got to take a step back and think about what's really best for everyone involved 
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. It's like they've become experts at playing the diplomatic game 
. But at the same time, you can't help but feel that their nuclear ambitions are just a big sticking point in all of this 
. What do you guys think?
. The way he talks about Iran's proxy wars and military aid to groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, it feels a bit convenient how selective the truth is here... I mean, doesn't anyone else want to hear more about the human cost of all this conflict? 
Still, gotta respect his conviction in defending Iranian interests, even if it's not gonna win him any friends on the international stage 
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they're like totally defying everyone and still managing to adapt lol Zarif sounds like such a straight shooter, no holds barred, just spilling the tea on how Iran's been playing the game of global politics all along 
I'm kinda fascinated by how he's tying in these proxy wars and resistance groups, it's like a whole other level of complexity 
I mean, you gotta respect his dedication to Iranian national interests though 
what do you think about Iran's nuclear ambitions tho? 
. The fact that resistance groups in Syria are fighting not just external enemies but also domestic opposition is crazy 
On the other hand, it's cool that they're supporting groups like Hamas and Hezbollah - I guess you could say they're like, fighting for a good cause or something... 
But seriously, doesn't Zarif's whole "resistance" thing sound kinda like just an excuse to keep on doing whatever they want? 
. Zarif makes some valid points about resisting external pressure, but at what cost? It's like, what if we're just fueling more conflict instead of bringing people together? 
Still, I guess it's all about perspective – from Iran's point of view, this is all part of their master plan 
. Zarif's emphasis on maintaining resistance and promoting unity among resistance groups makes a lot of sense, especially considering the regional dynamics at play. It's clear that Iran is committed to its national interests, but also seems to be trying to find ways to coexist with other countries in the region 
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i mean, who needs to trust the international community when you've got proxies and resistance groups on your side? 
, but Zarif's all like "we're just gonna keep doing what we're doing". I don't know about you guys, but I'm starting to think that this whole "regional preeminence" thing might be more complicated than we thought 
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. These resistance groups are basically fighting against multiple enemies at once, which makes it super hard for anyone else to even try to intervene. And on top of that, Zarif's right - the only way forward for Iran is to keep promoting unity among these groups and maintaining their resistance.
. Like, Zarif's saying that Iran's not going to let international sanctions or external pressure bring them down, and that's just a super smart move if you ask me. It's like, they're totally refusing to play by the other guys' rules and are instead forging their own path.
That's a far cry from their supposed "shutdown" in 2015. Meanwhile, US sanctions have only made them more determined to keep pushing forward with their nuclear program - fun facts: since 2002, Iran has spent over $12 billion on uranium enrichment efforts 
.
I mean, who wouldn't want to learn about a country that's like the ultimate "proxy war" expert? But seriously, it's interesting to see how Iran's been playing the long game and using proxy forces to get ahead. It's like they're saying, "Hey, we may not be able to take down Saudi Arabia or Israel on our own, but with some resistance groups on our side, we can definitely give them a run for their money!" 
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. but honestly, it feels like they're just playing a never-ending game of cat and mouse 
. us and israel are always trying to undermine them, but zarif's saying that resistance groups in syria and other places are actually helping iran's cause 
.
also gotta respect how iran's managed to evade sanctions all these years - it's like they're the ultimate underdog story 
. anyhoo,zarif seems like genuine guy who just wants what's best for iran