Iran’s Foreign Ministry Rejects Allegations of Deal with U.S. over General Soleimani

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Ghassemi today reacted angrily to allegations by a former Iranian parliamentarian that Foreign Minister Javad Zarif had struck a deal to hand over Iran’s Quds Force Commander Qassem Soleimani to the United States in return for removing banking sanctions against Iran. Mahmoud Nabauyan, a strong critic of the Rouhani government, recently claimed that Zarif had concluded an agreement with the Financial Action Task Force (F.A.T.F.) – an international organization fighting money laundering – in which the Iranian government had agreed to extradite U.S.-designated Iranian individuals, including Soleimani, to Washington. In a video published in the Iranian media, the former lawmaker also blasted Washington for not honoring its commitment to lift banking and financial restrictions against Iran as required by the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement. He further claimed that U.S. officials have told their Iranian counterparts that “we will establish banking relations with you provided that you surrender Qassem Soleimani to us in shackles.” He added: “Our country’s minister has pledged to America at F.A.T.F. to surrender Qassem Soleimani handcuffed, and Qassem’s name is mentioned in F.A.T.F.”

Ghassemi rejected the accusations as “reckless lies” and noted that there was no extradition treaty between Washington and Tehran.  

Yesterday, Zarif also reacted to the allegations, calling them “shameful” and highlighting his close relationship with Soleimani. The Iranian foreign minister reportedly also met with Soleimani after the allegations, and their photograph next to each other was widely published in the Iranian media. Zarif also threatened to file a lawsuit against Nabauyan if the former lawmaker refused to apologize.

Comment: In the final televised presidential debate, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani pledged to do his best to remove the remaining U.S. and European sanctions if he wins a second term. “I will engage myself in lifting all the non-nuclear sanctions during the coming four years and bring back the grandeur of Iran and the Iranian people,” he stressed. His remarks provoked an angry reaction from hardliners. Fars News Agency, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (I.R.G.C.), for example, called on Rouhani to avoid making “ludicrous” campaign promises.

Rouhani was also criticized by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and I.R.G.C. leaders for claiming that the nuclear deal prevented a potential U.S. or Israel military attack against Iran. The hardliners claimed that the country’s defensive and military power has deterred any foreign aggression. Khamenei and I.R.G.C. leaders have repeatedly made it clear that Iran will not negotiate with the United States regarding non-nuclear issues – particularly on Iran’s controversial missile program, Tehran’s regional role, or human rights abuses in the country.

While most of nuclear-related sanctions on Iran were lifted in January 2016, remaining U.S. unilateral sanctions and the Trump administration’s tougher approach vis-à-vis Tehran have dissuaded foreign companies from doing business with Iran. As a result, most Iranians have not reaped the benefits of the nuclear accord.

Although Iranian hardliners remain suspicious and critical of the Rouhani government’s engagement with the West, most would not believe Nabauyan’s allegations against Zarif. First, such an agreement between Tehran and Washington over Iran’s arguably most influential general is unthinkable. Second, such major foreign policy decisions are made by the Supreme Leader, not the elected government. In addition, Zarif has had a long and close relationship with Soleimani and has always defended the general and his policies and actions in regional conflicts. “I have had a close relationship with General Soleimani for over 20 years. When I was the head of the [Iranian] negotiating team involving questions of Iraq and Afghanistan, I had a very good working relationship with General Soleimani,” Zarif said in February.