Former Foreign Minister Zarif Criticizes “Distorted Cognition” in Iran’s Foreign Policy

Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif started his political life in the United States, where he engaged in radical student politics. The 1979 revolution in Iran propelled him to official positions with Iran’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations. But as a young man, Zarif admitted in his autobiography, “Mr. Ambassador,” he compensated for his lack of experience and education with sloganeering and buffoonery. Neither helped advance Iran’s cause during eight years of war with Iraq, and the older Zarif, particularly in his capacity as foreign minister, tried to make up for past mistakes. Now, in a recent speech, Zarif tried to persuade President Ebrahim Raisi to avoid dependency on China and Russia and perhaps even cultivate relations with the United States, although he did not advocate for that in a straightforward manner.

• February 17: Addressing the Mardomsalari Party’s annual congress, Zarif said, according to reformist Etemad Daily:
  • “The fundamental problem in this world, and in Iran, is due to cognitive distortion and decision making based on distorted cognition, which causes irreparable damage in the world … We think we are still in a world” defined by polarity, “so we hope a new pole will take shape, for example an ‘Eastern Block’ that transforms the world order into a multipolarity, with one of those poles supporting us. But the world of today is a network, and states are not the only players. It is Elon Musk who decides whether Gaza or Ukraine should have internet access or not.”
  • “There are those who ask me, ‘Why is Saudi Arabia a lackey of the United States?’ or ‘Why do Russia and China have good relations?’ These questions arise from an outdated understanding of the world … Saudi Arabia and China perceive the world as a network, which is why China is giving more concessions to an American ally like Saudi Arabia than to a Chinese ally like Iran. Russia’s behavior is not any different.”
  • “China and Russia do not intend to engage in strategic rivalry with the United States, although the United States is trying to and has to some extent managed to lure China to play this role … Nevertheless, China is not playing geopolitical games with the United States. How can we expect China to veto United Nations Security Council Resolutions against Iran? If we have such an expectation, it is because of our distorted understanding of the world and the nature of power.”

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