John Kerry, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, has been allegedly accused of leaking information about Israeli attacks on Iran. A leaked audiotape of Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, has raised concerns that Kerry might have shared other sensitive information with America’s adversaries. Consequently, many Republican lawmakers demand that these allegations must be thoroughly investigated by the Senate. Some Republicans are also demanding that the former Secretary of State resigns from his current position.
In the audio, Zarif has declared that during Obama’s tenure, Kerry warned him about far more than 200 operations that were being planned against Syria by Israel. Given that Kerry was serving as the Secretary of State back then. Involvement in such activities majorly contrasts with his professional and national responsibilities.
The Biden administration, however, responds to those who have rushed to conclusions by stating that the information Zarif claims to have received from Kerry was already public.
Kerry is not new to controversies and has previously been accused of being involved in efforts of tarnishing the Trump government.
Subject to the ongoing concerns, and the past rumors, many senators have lost trust in his integrity.
Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) made the following statement in response to the audiotape scandal:
“I don’t do this lightly. In my entire time in the Senate, I’ve never called for anyone’s resignation, but his record, John Kerry’s record, of undermining working families and working against American national security interests was too much to bear. He needs to go.”
However, Ned Price, the Spokesperson for the State Department has remained silent and revealed no further information about the contents of the audiotape. It appears that just like members of the Biden administration, he too dismisses the fact that Iranian officials did not already know about Israeli operations.
John Kerry himself has denied any such allegation. He made a tweet on Monday stating that the accusation against him was false:
“This never happened – either when I was Secretary of State or since.”
The matter is delicate and any decision by authorities can not only create an uproar in the political and national environment but also significantly affect US relations with Iran. Therefore, great care and detailed investigation will be required to reach a definite conclusion.
