"In the Islamic republic the military field rules," Zarif said in the recording, quoted by the New York Times. "I have sacrificed diplomacy for the military field rather than the field servicing diplomacy."
The Twitter account of Iran’s Supreme Leader on Friday carried the image of a golfer resembling former President Donald Trump apparently being targeted by a drone, vowing revenge over the killing of a top Iranian general in a U.S. drone attack.
The post carried the text of remarks by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in December, in which he said “Revenge is certain”.
Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from a landmark nuclear deal with Iran and world powers in 2018 and launched a "maximum pressure" campaign against Tehran, reimposing and reinforcing crippling sanctions.
On Saturday, a mock funeral procession was held in Baghdad, marking the first anniversary of the drone strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.
Thousands of mourners joined the march on the highway leading to the Baghdad airport, the exact highway where the two key figures were assassinated.
On Friday, Iran's Judiciary Chief warned that Gen. Qasem Soleimani's killers will "not be safe on Earth", as the Islamic Republic marked the first anniversary of his assassination.
Ebrahim Raisi, speaking at an event in Tehran to pay tribute to Soleimani, stated that not even President Donald Trump was "immune from justice".
On 3rd January, the first anniversary of Gen. Qasem Soleimani's assassination, special programs will be held by the cultural missions of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Pakistan.
Political and religious groups in Pakistan are also reported to be participating in the programs.
Programs will be held across all major cities, including Rawalpindi, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar.
The late general's appeal transcended political, religious and class divisions, said academic Mehdi Zakerian, who noted that "in his speeches, Soleimani always spoke to all Iranians and not just to one social class".
The exchange also comes as tensions mount ahead of the first anniversary of the killing of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in a US drone strike in Baghdad.