Memorial volume unveiling
Former FM Kharrazi sought to recast Iran’s image abroad
Iran’s Former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Sunday that the late Iranian diplomat Kamal Kharrazi devoted much of his career to improving Iran’s image internationally and pioneered public diplomacy within the Foreign Ministry, speaking at the unveiling of a memorial volume honoring Kharrazi in Tehran.
"Kamal Kharrazi’s foremost concern was correcting Iran's image in the world," Zarif said, recalling decades of working alongside the veteran diplomat. He said Kharrazi helped reconnect Iranian expatriate academics and professionals with their homeland during his tenure in New York and "introduced the Foreign Ministry to public diplomacy, pursuing it with determination."
Remembering one of his final meetings with Kharrazi shortly before the recent conflict, Zarif described him as "a model of integrity and composure" whose quiet demeanor concealed a deep concern for the Iranian people. He also praised Kharrazi’s wife, Mansoureh Raeis Ghasem, saying she shared the same compassion for society.
Calling on officials to preserve the legacy of those killed alongside Kharrazi, Zarif urged political figures to "set political rivalries aside, learn from these martyrs, and care for the people," adding that the sacrifices made should be used to build a better future for the next generation.
The ceremony, hosted by Iran Cultural & Press Institute, brought together senior political, diplomatic and academic figures, including IRNA Managing Director Hossein Jaberi Ansari, former First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri, former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution Secretary Abdolhossein Khosropanah, Persian Language and Literature Academy President Gholam-Ali Haddad Adel, diplomat Sadegh Kharrazi, and Deputy Minister of Culture for Media Affairs Mohammadreza Norouzpour.
Jaberi Ansari described Kharrazi as "a symbol of forgotten virtues," citing his restraint, intellectual discipline and modest lifestyle. He said the memorial volume was intended as a small tribute to a statesman who played a formative role in both IRNA and Iran's foreign policy.
Khosropanah highlighted Kharrazi’s academic legacy, describing him as a pioneer in integrating cognitive science with the humanities and a driving force behind expanding Iran's scientific diplomacy.
Jahangiri said Kharrazi’s "central concern was always the national interest," recalling his pragmatic approach to policymaking and his belief that public trust is built through dialogue rather than propaganda.
Haddad Adel, who knew Kharrazi for seven decades, remembered him as a principled, nonpartisan statesman with the qualities of an accomplished diplomat, adding that he also played a pivotal role in establishing cognitive science as an academic discipline in Iran.