TEHRAN (Iran News) – Government spokesman says the dissident television network Iran International’s “stealing” of an audio file of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was a conspiracy to achieve its wicked objectives.
Ali Rabiei added the TV network has always worked against the Iranian nation.
“This audio file was released by the spiteful [Iran International] television run by petro-dollars, and since the day it was established, this television [network] wanted Iranian people to suffer and be under sanctions,” he said on Tuesday.
“This shows the move to steal and selectively broadcast the interview was a plot,” added the spokesman.
“[Iranian] President [Hassan Rouhani] instructed the Intelligence Ministry to identify those behind this conspiracy,” said Rabiei.
“We believe the stealing of these documents is a plot against the government, Establishment, national unity, our efficient institutions on the ground, and our national interests,” he added.
“Of course, we will be waiting for Dr. Zarif to return to Iran and give the necessary explanation on the misinterpretations,” he noted.
Rabiei explained that the interview was part of a project aimed at reporting and narrating the services, actions, challenges and achievements of the two administrations led by President Hassan Rouhani, adding the project included similar discussions with Iranian ministers and vice presidents under the auspices of the Presidency’s Center for Strategic Studies.
“The complete versions of the audio-visual files and their written transcripts were to be archived in the cabinet office and classified accordingly. An excerpt of each interview was to be archived in a research center, and then published and made available to the public with the consent of the interviewees,” he said.
“Regarding the interview with Zarif, the file was stolen and published by people whose identities are being investigated…,” he added.
Rabiei reiterated that the TV network had “selectively aired parts of a very lengthy interview with wicked intentions.”
He said the interview is, in fact, a program about the performance and achievements of, and challenges faced by the Rouhani administration recorded under the supervision of the President’s Office.
An interview was recorded on February 24 as part of an ‘oral history’ research by Iranian economist Saeed Laylaz, first leaked by the London-based television channel ‘Iran International funded by Saudi Arabia.
The Iranian government spokesman also said about the exchange of prisoners between Iran and the United States that the idea of exchanging prisoners with the United States has always been raised and the number of Iranian prisoners in the United States is more than the number of American prisoners in Iran.
