Zarif: ‘Group B’ Seeks Regime Change; Bolton: Iranians Deserve Better Government

Fox News television network on Sunday, April 28, while broadcasting a full interview with Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s Foreign Minister, also aired the response of John Bolton, National Security Advisor to the White House.

Mohammad Javad Zarif said in his Fox News interview that “Group B,” consisting of Benjamin Netanyahu, Bolton, Mohammed bin Salman, and Mohammed bin Zayed, are attempting to escalate Iran-US tensions and push Donald Trump toward war with Iran “against his wishes.”

John Bolton called this part of Zarif’s remarks “absolutely ridiculous” and said: “This interview was carefully prepared and written propaganda by the Iranians.”

The White House National Security Advisor, accusing Islamic Republic officials of “attempting to mislead various branches of the US government,” said that Donald Trump’s policy toward Iran “was already clearly defined and based on maximum pressure before I joined the government.”

Bolton also stated that the maximum pressure policy is working and “that is why they are concerned.”

In his Fox News interview, Mohammad Javad Zarif, referring to the time when John Bolton spoke at Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization conferences, received money from them, and “said the revolution’s 40th anniversary would be in Tehran,” said: “He is repeating these statements again in his capacity as National Security Advisor.”

In response to this part of Zarif’s remarks, John Bolton, while referencing the Trump administration’s maximum pressure policy, said: “The Iranian government continues to oppress its own people, remains the world’s largest financial sponsor of terrorism, continues its ballistic missile program whose only purpose is to carry nuclear warheads. There is no doubt that this regime is a threat to the region and the world.”

Iran’s Foreign Minister said in another part of his Fox News interview that “regime change in Iran” is the least of what “Team B is seeking,” and “they have done everything to drag America into the conflict, although I do not think President Trump favors another war [in the region].”

Zarif, however, accused Donald Trump of pursuing regime change through maximum pressure policy, but according to him, “this policy is doomed to failure and these poor people [Group B] know it well.”

Chris Wallace, Fox News anchor, referring to this part of Zarif’s remarks, asked John Bolton whether he honestly believed that “behavior change” by the Iranian government is impossible and there is no way but “regime change.”

John Bolton responded: “There is absolutely no doubt that the Iranian people deserve a better government. This is not just a religious dictatorship but also a military dictatorship.”

The White House National Security Advisor also said: “We will see where economic pressures lead.”

On the other hand, Mohammad Javad Zarif, accusing American officials of intending to “pressure the Iranian people to act against the government,” said: “Their analysis and hopes are wrong and delusional” because, according to him, “the result of this pressure will be to make the Iranian people more determined to resist the pressures.”

John Bolton responded to this part by saying that the “slight difference” Zarif mentioned “exists only in his view.”

The White House National Security Advisor said that last year during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Washington, “President Trump told him that he intends to withdraw from the JCPOA and wants to negotiate about all issues including the nuclear program, ballistic missile program, support for terrorism and other malicious Iranian behaviors, all at once.”

John Bolton then clarified: “When they are ready to talk, the President will also be ready.”

The Donald Trump administration withdrew from the JCPOA in May of last year and reinstated all sanctions against Iran in August and November.

Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s Foreign Minister, who is currently in New York, has repeatedly referred to prisoner exchanges between the two countries and has reported limited correspondence with the Trump administration.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, while emphasizing that the Trump administration “is not seeking regime change in Iran,” has said that the Islamic Republic must meet 12 conditions to become “a normal country that can be cooperated with.”

Source: Radio Farda