03.04.2026 16:03
Iran's former Foreign Minister Javad Zarif claimed that his country has achieved military superiority on the ground, asserting that the U.S. and Israel have "sunk into a quagmire without an exit strategy." The architect of the nuclear talks, Zarif stated that for lasting peace, nuclear restrictions, the lifting of sanctions, and the establishment of a security network involving regional countries, including Turkey, are necessary.
Former Iranian Foreign Minister and key figure in diplomacy, Javad Zarif, made assessments regarding the Iran war in an article he wrote for the US-based Foreign Affairs magazine. Stating that Iran has achieved a military victory on the ground, Zarif called on the Tehran administration to transform this superiority into a lasting peace agreement.
"IRAN DID NOT START THE WAR BUT IS WINNING"
Despite the heavy bombardment that began at the end of February and has lasted for weeks, Zarif noted that Iran has managed to maintain its line against the US and Israel, which aim for regime change. He stated that despite the attacks targeting civilian, military, and industrial facilities, Iran's leadership has maintained continuity. Zarif claimed that American and Israeli forces have become stuck in a "quagmire without an exit strategy."
OFFER OF "HONORABLE EXIT" TO TRUMP Zarif emphasized that US President Donald Trump continues his threats against Iran but is under political pressure due to rising energy costs, arguing that this situation could create an opportunity for both sides. According to Zarif, Iran should propose restrictions on its nuclear program and lower the uranium enrichment rate to below 3.67% for an exit plan that would end the war. He also suggested the lifting of all sanctions against Iran in exchange for the complete opening of the Strait of Hormuz to trade.
Zarif also proposed signing a permanent pact that would ensure the US and Iran do not target each other. He stated that the peace plan he proposed would provide a suitable timing for the Trump administration and an "honorable exit."
Javad Zarif "THERE IS NO DIPLOMACY WITH REALTORS"
Zarif pointed out that the deepening of trust issues caused by the Trump administration's unilateral withdrawal from the 2015 Nuclear Agreement (JCPOA) and the continuation of sanctions during the Biden era have dulled the Iranian public's faith in diplomacy.
Zarif stated that Trump's appointment of "realtor friends" like Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, who do not understand geopolitics, instead of experienced diplomats for negotiations has undermined the process.
"LET'S ESTABLISH A SECURITY LINE WITH TURKEY AND THE REGION" Stating that the peace plan should not remain solely between the two countries, Zarif proposed a new security architecture for the Middle East. He said, "A permanent security network should be established with the participation of neighboring countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, and Turkey. Washington should finance the reconstruction process to compensate for the destruction and civilian casualties it caused in Iran in 2025 and 2026, and Iran should open the door to economic cooperation by inviting American oil companies to the country."
Zarif expressed that in this environment where both sides boast of their military successes, the only way to achieve a lasting solution is through mutual concessions. The former minister argued that an agreement made under the guarantee of China and Russia could end 47 years of enmity, concluding with, "History remembers those who make peace the most."
Although Zarif is seen as a "moderate and rational" interlocutor in the West in the context of Iranian politics, he is often criticized by conservative decision-makers within Iran for being "Western-leaning" or for selling the gains of the revolution at the table due to his active role in the JCPOA process.