November 22, 2008
Iran's suave public face
UN ambassador Zarif negotiates delicate path
Iran's U.N. Ambassador Javad Zarif addresses the Security Council. (AP Photo / March 11, 2003)
BEIRUT, Lebanon - With a president who denies the Holocaust and a looming showdown over its nuclear ambitions, Iran has a serious image problem.
But while the world focuses on the antics of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, an urbane, U.S.-educated diplomat is emerging as Iran's most effective spokesman on its nuclear efforts. He is Javad Zarif, the Iranian ambassador to the United Nations, and he's unlike most other officials in Ahmadinejad's regime.
The UN Security Council called on Iran last month to suspend its uranium enrichment activities by today. But the UN atomic watchdog agency is expected to tell the council today that Tehran is going ahead with its program, intensifying calls by the United States and Europe for sanctions against Iran.
As the dispute moves into the council's hands, Zarif is poised to become the public face of Iranian diplomacy.
After the council's appeal last month, Zarif quickly held a news conference to explain his government's position. He stressed that while Iran is willing to negotiate with the United Nations, it would not give up its right to develop a peaceful nuclear energy program.
"Iran will want to cooperate with the international community, but it does not accept pressure or intimidation," Zarif declared. "We have made it clear at the highest levels of government that Iran does not want nuclear weapons."
Unlike other Iranian officials, Zarif doesn't resort to anti-American rhetoric in his pronouncements. And he's always looking for a good sound bite, such as this one from his recent news conference: "Iran is a country that is allergic to pressure and to threats."
"He's the most talented diplomat in the Iranian government," said Karim Sadjadpour, an Iran analyst at the International Crisis Group, a think tank that focuses on conflict resolution. "He could make a difference in the nuclear negotiations."
Zarif, 46, is a veteran diplomat who was appointed in August 2002 as Iran's top UN envoy by then-President Mohammad Khatami. Before that, Zarif served for 10 years as Iran's deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs. From 1989 to 1992, he was the deputy UN ambassador.
While he has worked under three Iranian administrations, he is most closely identified with the reformist camp led by Khatami. His reformer credentials could pose problems for him under Ahmadinejad, the hard-line former mayor of Tehran elected president last year.
Zarif survived a recent shake-up at the foreign ministry because of the intervention of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader. "Khamenei stepped in to prevent Ahmadinejad from replacing Zarif as UN ambassador," said an Iranian official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Although Zarif has a close relationship with Khamenei, the official said, it is unclear whether the diplomat can influence Khamenei enough to change the course of the nuclear showdown.
Fellow diplomats say Zarif is likely to tackle the crisis with a mix of backroom dealing and public appeals.
"Javad is very good at explaining his government's position, especially in difficult circumstances," said an Arab diplomat at the United Nations who has worked with Zarif. "He knows how to use the UN system."
One example of Zarif's diplomatic skill is on display every February, when the Iranian Mission to the United Nations hosts a reception on the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which brought Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to power. The elegantly dressed Zarif stands at the door, personally greeting every guest and chatting with him or her for a few moments.
Zarif earned a doctorate in international law and policy from the University of Denver. While working at the Iranian foreign ministry in the 1990s, he also taught courses on human rights, international law and diplomacy at the University of Tehran.
The showdown over Iran's nuclear program could be Zarif's greatest diplomatic challenge. Iran insists that all of its activities are legal and that it wants to develop technology for nuclear energy, not weapons. But the United States and Europe say Tehran is secretly developing an arms program.
In its first move on the issue, the Security Council adopted a statement last month calling on Iran to end its uranium enrichment - which can produce fuel for nuclear reactors or material for bombs - and to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The statement, which was approved by all 15 council members, is not legally binding and makes no reference to any consequences if Iran fails to comply.
There are persistent divisions among the five veto-wielding council members about using economic sanctions or military action to force Iran to end its uranium enrichment.
The United States, France and Britain are calling for tough measures, such as sanctions, while Russia and China insist there is no evidence to show Iran poses a threat to international security.
Zarif is likely to exploit these splits, and the IAEA's admission that Iran has the right to develop nuclear energy.
"Iran insists on its right to have access to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes," he said. "We will not abandon that claim."
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