TEHRAN - The Israeli assassination of Kamal Kharrazi, chairperson of Iran’s Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, came as a blow to wisdom and diplomacy.

Benjamin Netanyahu, who provoked Donald Trump into an illegal war against Iran in line with his illusion of creating a new Middle East, ordered the assassination of Kharrazi to undermine diplomacy. 

Netanyahu imagined that he could bring Iran to a deadlock by resorting every possible vicious moves.

Netanyahu and his inner circle of ultra-Zionists were aware of the wisdom, foresightedness and competence of Kama Kharrazi.

By serving as Iran’s representative to the United Nations and foreign minister, he was considered as one of Iran’s most capable persons in analyzing the complexities of diplomacy and international relations.

As a professor of cognitive science, Kharrazi’s statements were fully measured. This has turned him into a treasure in the Iranian political system. He applied this approach in diplomacy and international relations.

He never entered political disputes during his long years of political career. At the same time, his mind was filled with Iran’s national interests. These qualities had turned him into a unique figure. He was liked by all moderate persons, including those from major reformist and principlist factions. 

It was for these reasons that he was named Iran’s ambassador to the UN during Hashemi Rafsanjan’s presidency, foreign minister during Mohammad Khatami’s administration, and finally director of the Strategic Council on Foreign Policy by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was also assassinated in a massive Israeli-U.S. airstrike on his office in the first hours of the war on Iran on Feb. 28.

He also never used harsh language against Iran’s enemies, namely Israel and the United States. He never uttered a word without careful thinking.

Being aware of his insightfulness, diplomatic cognition and understanding of the world, Israel struck his house on the 12th of Farvardin (April 1) during which his wife was instantly martyred and he himself was seriously injured and died on Farvardin 20 (April 9).

Though the criminal regime of Israel had announced that he would target current and former Iranian officials, he stayed at his home and never sought a safe place.

In a condolence message, new leader of Islamic Republic Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei said, "The martyrdom of the eminent scholar of science and culture, the seasoned figure in foreign policy, Dr. Seyyed Kamal Kharrazi, stands as a scroll of honor for academia, university professors, and political officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran—and, in stark contrast, a scroll of infamy for the arrogance of American-Zionist oppressors and the enemies of Iran's science, culture, and civilization."

It was during his ministerial post that Iran’s nuclear program became a bone of contention between Tehran and the United States. To avoid a politicization of the nuclear program and prevent factional disputes in the country, he proposed the issue to be handled by the Supreme National Security Council that its members were from different political tastes.

In a message, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described Kharrazi as a splendid example “wisdom”, “deep thinking” and “commitment to national interests”. He also said Kharrazi’s name is tied with “honest defense” of the Iranian nation’s “sovereignty and dignity”. 

To abort any chance of diplomacy, the Israeli regime also martyred Ali Larijani, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, on March 17.

In a message, former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the aggressors, by assassinating honorable persons like Kharrazi and Ali Larijani with their families, demonstrated their enmity with “peace and dialogue” and the flagbearers of these two cherished principles.

In an interview with IRNA prior to the war, Kharrazi had said there should be a “balance” between Iranism, Shiism and Islamism.

Kharrazi chose moderate competent persons in the SCFR think tank as his colleagues. Among them was Abbas Araghchi until he was appointed as foreign minister by President Masoud Pezeshkian in August 2024.

To better realize his way of thinking and care about Iran’s national interests, especially for those young generations who may not have read enough about his diplomatic career, it is enough to look at his congratulation message to President Pezeshkian on July 6, 2024, in which he stated: Your emphasis on utilizing leading experts in the field of foreign policy promises that, under your administration, the problems arising from the West's unjust sanctions will be resolved with dignity and authority.

Netanyahu’s anger of Iran runs so deep that he was seeking and still may seek to physically eliminate any person that could or can put an end to the unjustified U.S.-Israeli war on Iran though a dignified diplomacy.  

The war criminal Netanyahu felt unhappy that Ali Larijani, the philosopher turned politician, was appointed as the Supreme National Security Council after his 12-day war against Iran with the U.S. in June 2025. 

However, Iranian society is dynamic and capable of adapting swiftly and robustly to new circumstances.

Now that a two-week ceasefire between Iran and the U.S. is holding with the mediation of Pakistan, Iran’s top-ranking diplomats and politicians, including Foreign Minister Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, held talks on Saturday afternoon with American negotiators, including Vice President JD Vance in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the level of Iran’s participation in the Islamabad talks shows Iran’s “seriousness”. He added Iran is “quite ready” for any scenario, meaning dialogue or a resumption of the war if the talks fail or the ceasefire is violated by Israel or even the U.S.

Zarif also wrote Iran has proven its seriousness by sending officials with “highest authority” and “competence”.  

The former chief diplomat also urged Donald Trump to seize the opportunity by ignoring the illusions of war criminal Netanyahu and his collaborators before this opportunity is lost.

“Iran, by dispatching officials with highest authority and competence to Islamabad, has shown its seriousness despite repeated U.S. treasonous acts. We hope that Trump, regardless of claims, realize that the only exit route from this self-made impasse is to set aside the recommendation of the ‘criminal on the run’ and his accomplices and achieve a deal before the opportunity is lost,” Zarif wrote in a post on social media.

Now, although Kamal Kharrazi has been martyred, his legacy serves as a light for Iran’s foreign policy.  It is for this reason that Araghchi says, “Undoubtedly, efforts and thoughtful and diplomatic legacy of him will remain like a light in the future path of Iran’s foreign policy and won’t be forgotten.”