Mohammad Javad Zarif quotes

Mohammad Javad Zarif is an Iranian diplomat and academic who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran from 2013 to 2021. A key figure in Iran's nuclear negotiations with world powers, he played a crucial role in shaping the country's foreign relations. He remains influential in Iranian politics and international diplomacy. Here are 14 of his quotes:

The art of a diplomat is to conceal all turbulence behind his smile. (Mohammad Javad Zarif)
The concept of a velvet revolution in Iran should not be considered as groundless fear. View quote
Mohammad Javad Zarif
We do not jail people for their opinions[.]. View quote
Mohammad Javad Zarif
Beautiful military equipment don't rule the world, People rule the world. People. View quote
Mohammad Javad Zarif
All ethnicities and groups in Syria should begin the process of reconstruction within a single unit under the Syrian flag. View quote
Mohammad Javad Zarif
Currently, Americans have focused on psychological warfare and are doing their best to place psychological pressure on Iranians and our international partners. View quote
Mohammad Javad Zarif
If anything caused ISIS, it was the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq. View quote
Mohammad Javad Zarif
The United States wanted to send its trained rebel groups to Syria to fight ISIS. Out of twenty-five hundred rebels they had trained, only seventy accepted to go to Syria to fight ISIS. Everybody else wanted to go to Syria to fight the government. So you've got to wake up and smell the coffee. . . . The rebel groups have not fired a shot against ISIS. View quote
Mohammad Javad Zarif
His (Donald Trump) threats will not frighten us. View quote
Mohammad Javad Zarif
"Currently, Americans have focused on psychological warfare and are doing their best to place psychological pressure on Iranians and our international partners." (during an interview with the state TV). IFP News (2018-08-26). View quote
Mohammad Javad Zarif
[He was] good in the classroom. At that time ... I thought he'd play an important part in his country's life. (Mohammad Javad Zarif)
Zarif went. We are rid of him. View quote
Mohammad Javad Zarif
Zarif is a tough advocate, but he's also pragmatic, not dogmatic, He can play an important role in helping to resolve our significant differences with Iran peacefully. View quote
Mohammad Javad Zarif
He [Zarif] was intelligent, courteous, disciplined, interesting to talk to, I conducted the conversation to educate myself, so I did not try to persuade him [Zarif] of any particular approach, except my basic theme was that, on the basis of national interests, there is no conflict between Iran and the United States. Everything beyond that is ideological. View quote
Mohammad Javad Zarif