Zarif Denies Knowledge of Hamas Attack, Discusses Iran's Nuclear Program at Davos
January 23, 2025
11:59 AM
Reading time: 4 minutes

During a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Iranian Vice President for Strategic Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif addressed several significant geopolitical issues, including Iran's nuclear ambitions, its relationship with Israel, and the October 7 Hamas massacre.
Zarif stated that Iran had no prior knowledge of Hamas' plans to carry out the deadly attacks that disrupted not only lives but also stalled crucial nuclear talks with the United States. Iran had been scheduled for a meeting with American officials on October 9 to discuss the renewal of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), but the massacre derailed these discussions.
Zarif also denied claims that Israel had inflicted irreparable damage to Iran’s air defense systems, asserting that while some damage had been sustained, Iran’s defense capabilities remained intact.
On the subject of Iran’s nuclear program, Zarif emphasized that Iran could have produced nuclear weapons long ago if it had been the nation’s intent. He strongly dismissed the notion that Iran was close to nuclear weapons, asserting that the country’s nuclear activities were transparent and for peaceful purposes. Zarif criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, claiming Netanyahu’s opposition to the JCPOA was driven by an agenda to frame Iran as a continual nuclear threat in the international arena.
Zarif also made comments about U.S. President Donald Trump's potential return to office, expressing hopes that he would adopt a "more serious and realistic" approach to the situation. He noted that Iran's nuclear capability had advanced after the U.S. withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018.
In his remarks about Hamas, Zarif noted that despite Israeli efforts, Netanyahu’s objective to destroy Hamas had failed. "The resistance did not die," Zarif claimed, reinforcing Iran's stance of support for Palestinian groups in the region.