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After John Kerry leaked classified information to the terrorist regime of Iran, calls are being made for his resignation. Kerry, who currently serves as U.S. Special Climate Envoy, disclosed the number of Israeli attacks on Iranian targets to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and right-hand-man to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. The disclosures come in a story by the New York Times which released transcripts of the audio.
The Times, who has long supported Kerry, revealed more details of the audio which has led many to question Kerry’s fitness for office. Writes National Review’s Jim Geraghty, Kerry had revealed “that Israel had attacked Iranian interests in Syria at least 200 times.” Geraghty asks, “Was it official US policy to inform the Iranian government — most certainly not an ally — about the covert military actions of the Israeli government — most certainly an ally?” Tehran “probably suspected the Israelis” anyway. Still, “just what was the objective of telling the Iranian government this?”
Kerry, who has a long history of gaffes and actions that many say has harmed American allies and endangered U.S. troops, denied the claims. “I can tell you that this story and these allegations are unequivocally false. This never happened—either when I was Secretary of State or since,” Kerry wrote on Twitter.
Kerry’s actions, however, were disclosed in a leaked interview between a reporter and the Iranian official, not by Republican opponents of the Biden administration.
Prominent Republicans and others responded to the news of the leaked audio with calls for Kerry to step down or be fired.
“The allegations involving John Kerry are deeply disturbing and must be explained immediately,” Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) said in a statement. “Until we have clarity and know the truth, President Biden must remove John Kerry from all access to and briefings on national security intelligence. If these allegations are true, he must resign.”
“If this is true, it’s traitorous and Kerry needs to go,” Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) wrote on Twitter.
“This is a criminal act and John Kerry must be immediately investigated and PROSECUTED,” Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) wrote on Twitter. “President Biden must immediately remove John Kerry from any government or advisory position.”
This is a criminal act and John Kerry must be immediately investigated and PROSECUTED.
President Biden must immediately remove John Kerry from any government or advisory position.https://t.co/lO7ReFVCZS
— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) April 26, 2021
In the leaked audio, Zarif, Iran’s top diplomat, complains that the elite Revolutionary Guards had more influence in foreign affairs and the country’s nuclear dossier than him.
“I have never been able to tell a military commander to do something in order to aid diplomacy,” Zarif said.
Relations between pragmatist President Hassan Rouhani’s government and the Guards are important because the influence of the hardline paramilitary force is so great that it can disrupt any rapprochement with the West if it feels this would endanger its economic and political interests.
The Guard’s traditional skepticism about any cultivation of detente with Washington may become relevant if talks between Iran and world powers advance efforts to revive a 2015 nuclear deal that President Donald Trump exited three years ago.
Without disputing the audio’s authenticity, the foreign ministry spokesman on Monday said that the news channel only published excerpts of the seven-hour interview with the foreign minister.
–Wire services
