While referring to the previous attempts at negotiation with Saudi Arabia, Mohammad Javad Zarif, the foreign minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran stated: “I sent them a message saying if I’m the chief apologist as you say, Mr. Soleimani can talk with you.”

Qasem Soleimani is the commander of Quds forces, the international arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in charge of international terrorism and militant proxy groups.

In a meeting with some Iranians in Sweden, Zarif claimed that since his appointment to foreign minister position he has suggested negotiation with Saudi Arabia regarding Yemen, Bahrain, Iraq, and Lebanon, but has been rejected.

According to the foreign minister, Saudi officials responded by saying “Zarif has no power.”

He added: “Saudi Arabian officials say strange things. They say our problem is with General Soleimani.”

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had used the term “chief apologist” while referring to Zarif on Twitter a while back. Zarif also addressed his tweet in Sweden: “Mr. Pompeo thinks if he uses rude language in his tweets, I’ll be offended.”

He also claimed that “as someone who supports relations, I have put pressure to improve relations with neighbors, and I have paid the price for it.”

Referring to the Saudi Foreign Minister’s supposed response of “Arab world is none of your business” to his offer of negotiation, Zarif stated: “They see now that they have failed in Syria and Yemen, and in Lebanon, they imprisoned the prime minister.”

Regarding the European financial channel to trade non-sanctioned goods with Iran, known as INSTEX, Zarif stated: “It might not solve all out problems in the short run, but it shows this reality that the United States’ closest allies created a  mechanism to go around them.”

He stated that the problem with INSTEX is its limitation to food and medicine and not including oil.

Zarif also stated that in social media and public diplomacy, Iranians must help the Islamic Republic by “retweeting”.