Iran's right to self-defense: VP Mohammad Javad Zarif | GZERO World with Ian Bremmer

Is the shadow war between Israel and Iran officially out in the open? Iran launched a wave of ballistic missiles into Israel Tuesday night, calling the attack a response to Israel’s assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in Lebanon last week. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps also said the attack was retaliation for the killing of Hamas’s political leader, Ismael Haniyeh, assassinated while visiting Tehran last July, as well as Israel’s April attack on an Iranian embassy in Syria, which killed an Iranian commander.

On GZERO World, @Ian_Bremmer spoke with Iran’s Vice President of Strategic Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif on September 25, days before Nasrallah’s assassination and Iran’s missile response. Zarif, who served as Iran’s foreign minister until 2021, made it clear that Tehran had a right to defend itself and warned Iran could respond to Israel at any time. Zarif said that Iran had, up to that point, shown restraint in order to avoid being “dragged” into a wider war, which he claimed would play into Israeli interests.

“[Israel] thrives on tension, on conflict, and we will not provide it to them,” Zarif said less than a week before Iran fired missiles into Israel’s territory, “But that doesn’t mean we will fail to defend our territory, our people, and our guests.”

Watch Ian Bremmer’s full interview with Vice President Zarif on GZERO World beginning this Friday, October 4. Check local listings.

GZERO World with Ian Bremmer airs on US public television weekly - check local listings.

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[omnidentalstudio]

As an American 🇺🇸 I will not fight Iran for Isreal!!! We have a lot of problems to fix in our Dear America 🇺🇸

[johndoe-zznr]

Israelis are emotional but Iranians have patience that is why sometimes it take many months to weave a Persian rug

[Sana]

Mohammad Javad Zarif is Pezeshkian deputy for strategic affairs and the chief of the Presidential Center for Strategic Studies.
Dr. Aref is the vice president.

[philliptembo]

It seems the moderator is equally an Iranian diplomat.

[adilalamsyah]

America can defend israel why iran cant defend palestine

[EsmailLotfi-lc]

Iranian forces are more precise, more professionals, and better trained: they caused lots of damage and killed not even one civilian.That is the well-trained fighting force.

[PayamR-wj]

Zarif is a traitor must be arrested and brought to justice.

[HusseinJuma-gr]

Am optimistic that Iran has Nuclear weapons due to their high level of confidence 😮

[gregmichaels]

There is no place for Iran and their proxies in Lebanon

[rossbaker]

All states have a right to self defence. That shouldn’t be disputable

[Inquisitive_always]

Iran don't want any animosity with US, but israel draging US in another quagmire

[gonzalo]

Iranians need self defense from the iranian government, freedom and human rights now for Iranian people, down with the misogyny government down with ditactorship, down with ayatollah from the 8th century.

[elmerlucero]

Right to self-defense presupposes that one have been attacked! Who attacked Iran?

[evelynsinclair]

Much appreciation for this brief explanatory session. The US controlled media continually describes Iran's measured responses as weakness. Apparently unless a pile of civilian bodies is produced, the US assumes they can't do anything

[davetekannon]

An excellent Ian Bremmer interview---I've got to come up with some new adjectives, because they are all getting to be top-notch---with a very interesting and revealing exchange of ideas with VP Mohammad Javad Zarif.

[JohnSmit]

are they planning to stop arming their proxies (who in turn attack Israel and random ships) as part of said restraint?

[Jonathan-wzcc]

The interviewer is pathetic 😂😂😂 Instead of asking challenging questions, he sits there like a timid child, constantly flattering the interviewee in every sentence

[patriciaeddy]

Definitely, Iran 🇮🇷 has a right to defend themselves.

[dennismorris]

Mohammad Javad Zarif, always a voice of reason and intelligence.

[abelsantamaria]

It is a wrong title, v. Presidency, you
May need to correct this.