General Soleimani Voices Support for FM Zarif after Resignation

General Soleimani referred to lack of coordination in the presidential office during the recent visit by Syrian President Bashar Assad to Tehran and his meeting with President Hassan Rouhani in which Zarif was not invited, saying that the incoordination was not intentional.

“I should underline that he (Zarif) as the Islamic Republic of Iran’s foreign minister is the main official responsible for the country’s foreign policy,” he said.

General Soleimani also pointed to the happiness shown by anti-revolutionary groups and enemies after Zarif’s resignation, saying that their rush to celebrate the incident, which was the result of an administrational fault, will not leave any impact on the Islamic Republic’s determination to attain its goals and defend the country’s national interests and the resistance front.

He noted that the Iranian nation will continue its bright path with unity and seriously under the guidance of Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei.

Zarif resigned his post on Monday night but President Rouhani rejected his resignation.

President Rouhani in a letter on Wednesday said he would not accept resignation of the foreign minister as the move is against the national interests.

The Iranian president said he rejected the foreign minister’s resignation regarding the Supreme Leader’s remarks who termed Zarif a brave, reliable and faithful person who pioneers in resistance against the US pressures against the country.

He said the happiness shown by the enemies including the Zionist regime of Israel after Zarif’s resignation well betokened the foreign minister’s success so “this is the best reason for you to remain in your post”.