Zarif, From Reviving Nuclear Deal to Presidency of Iran
February 13, 2021, 2:57 pm

Zarif, From Reviving Nuclear Deal to Presidency of Iran

Mohammad Javad Mousavizadeh

Over a decade ago, Mohammad Javad Zarif as Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations met some American politicians and senators privately. At one, The New Yorker wrote in an article that Joe Bien in his senate days met with Zarif. “Zarif is a tough advocate, but he’s also pragmatic, not dogmatic,” Biden told, “He can play an important role in helping to resolve our significant differences with Iran peacefully.”

And now, the result of Iran’s next presidential election is related directly to lifting the sanctions against the country by the U.S and reviving Iran's nuclear deal as known JCPOA. The common factor of both is a name, Iran Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif. If he resurrects the deal with the Biden administration, Zarif will be a hero in Iran before the next presidential election. In fact, the absorbent features appear in Zarif’s character, he is the only person in the world who can telephone both Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and American senators. So, he could be an adequate choice for four years of interaction between Iran and the Biden administration. Although he rejects any nomination willingness, many reformists and moderates in Iran support him. However, he sent recently a positive signal for the run to the presidency in an interview with an Iranian Newspaper.

Iran’s presidential elections are scheduled to be held on 18 June 2021. The relationship between Iran and U.S in future months has related to the result of the election. If the two sides can compromise together, the crippling sanctions on Iran would be lifted, and Iran’s economic problem would be reduced. Now, Iranian people are under maximum pressure; therefore, reviving the nuclear deal can increase chances of closer candidates to the current government. In reverse, if diplomacy defeats, the election turnout rate would be reduced and hardliners will win most probably.

Few months remain until Iran’s election and rumors market are hot in political space. The possible candidates from Principlists and hardliners are the Speaker of the Parliament of Iran Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Ebrahim Raisi as Chief Justice of Iran, and Iranian politician Saeed Jalili. On another side, reformists and moderates are in a weakened position because the economic situation in Iran is catastrophic and the prices of stuff and food material are at the highest level since the revolution of 1979. But there are rumors that the foreign minister may run for president. If he can revive JCPOA, Zarif will be a choice with a high chance for the presidency. Otherwise, a hardliner candidate becomes the president.

Absorbent features have appeared in Zarif's Character. One day, he talks to President Bashar al-Assad and another day he is talking with senator Feinstein. He is verified by Qasem Soleimani and Iran’s supreme leader. “He is the son of Iran's revolutionary,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said. Also, Zarif is credible among American politicians. He has known the cultures and politics of the two sides since the 1979 revolution. Just a politician can straddle between Iran and U.S, He lived about twenty years in the U.S and his children are American. He wears no tie but he is mastered the American accent. Many years ago, at a meeting hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations, Martin Indyk, the former U.S. Ambassador to Israel said to Zarif as Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations, “We’re going to miss you!” After many years, the man as a foreign minister of Iran, sanctioned by the Trump administration. After that, Senator Dianne Feinstein released the statement on sanction against Iran Foreign Minister. “Sanction of Iran Foreign Minister Javad Zarif is a mistake.” the statement added, “I’ve known Foreign Minister Zarif for more than 15 years. While we’ve had our differences of opinion, he’s always been a capable diplomat.”

We can say surely if Zarif can’t, no one can fix it. Without him, it will be much more difficult. If the U.S wants to compromise with Iran after Trump's era, the country has not a better choice than Zarif. In fact, all the world has known him by signing of JCPOA between Iran and U.S, E3, EU, China, and Russia. He played a key role in the achievement to deal. Trump administration withdraw America from the deal, but Biden’s foreign policy team and Zarif want to revive the deal. But there are obstacles and dissidents, and the process going on a bumpy road. If Biden returns to the deal, Democrats will interact with a moderate government in the future years. Maybe, Zarif will be a president, but otherwise, no reviving the deal means a hardliner president and increasing Iran's nuclear activity in the Middle East. Moderates, reformists, and many people in Iran would be motivated to vote for Zarif against hardline rivals but the precondition of his presidency is resurrecting of JCPOA and lifting Iran’s sanctions. “If Iran wants to negotiate with the U.S, a negotiation specialist government must come to power,” Ali Soufi, a reformist politician, told to Fararu News Website. “It seems that Zarif is the best choice and he can run to the presidency.”

The time is running out for Biden if he wants a pragmatic person as president of Iran not dogmatic. But now, two sides want the first step to being taken by the other. Biden says if Iran back to its commitments; we will back to JCPOA. On another side, Iran's officials say lifting the sanctions is the precondition of backing our nuclear commitments. And the Biden administration can affect Iran’s next presidential election in the last months of Rouhani's era, but Biden now concludes that Iran is in weakness position and the first step must take by Iran, not the U.S.

However, the danger of Zarif is serious for hardliners in Iran. When Joe Biden elected, the Kayhan newspaper as the opposition of the Iran government and a hardliner media wrote that Zarif must retire from politics and claimed he would not any chance of winning the presidential election. But recently, Iran’s Foreign Minister in an interview with Hamdeli newspaper gave no answer definitely that whether he will run in the country’s next presidential election, but he said,” I submit to fate.”

Mohammad Javad Mousavizadeh

BY: Mohammad Javad Mousavizadeh

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.