Javad Zarif makes striking remarks: ‘Why do we threaten Azerbaijan over the hijab?’

Former Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has criticised his country’s approach to neighbouring states, stressing the need to shift from a threat-based mindset to an opportunity-oriented approach.

TodayPress TV reports that Zarif said Iran views Azerbaijan as a threat and adopts a similar approach towards Armenia, although to a lesser extent.

According to the former minister, Iran also places emphasis on perceived threats in its relations with other neighbouring countries, including Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

Zarif noted that many issues in Iran are assessed through the lens of security. He cited the treatment of the hijab issue as a defensive line as an example of this mindset.

The former foreign minister also criticised the framing of social issues in terms of military security. In his view, overcoming the current situation requires a change in approach and mindset.

“We must replace a threat-oriented approach with an opportunity-oriented one,” Javad Zarif stressed.