TEHRAN – Israel’s assassination of Iran’s Chairman of the Strategic Council for Foreign Affairs Kamal Kharaj is a blow to wisdom and diplomacy.
Benjamin Netanyahu, who pushed Donald Trump into an illegal war with Iran in line with his fantasy of creating a new Middle East, ordered Karaj’s assassination to undermine diplomacy.
Prime Minister Netanyahu imagined that he could use all sorts of dirty tricks to bring Iran to a standstill.
Prime Minister Netanyahu and the ultra-Zionists in his inner circle recognized Khama Karaj’s wisdom, foresight, and competence.
He served as Iran’s representative to the United Nations and as foreign minister, and was considered one of Iran’s most capable figures in analyzing the complexities of diplomacy and international relations.
As a professor of cognitive science, Karaj’s comments were well considered. This made him an asset to the Iranian political system. He applied this approach to diplomacy and international relations.
He never participated in a political contest during his long political career. At the same time, his mind was filled with Iran’s national interests. These qualities made him a unique person. He was liked by all moderates, including major reformists and fundamentalists.
It was for this reason that he was appointed as Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations during the era of President Hashemi Rafsanjan, as Minister of Foreign Affairs during the regime of Mohammad Khatami, and finally as director of the Strategic Council for Foreign Policy by Islamic Revolution leader Ayatollah Khamenei. Ayatollah Khamenei was also assassinated in his office in a large-scale airstrike by Israel and the United States shortly after the start of the war against Iran on February 28th.
He also never used harsh words against Iran’s enemies, namely Israel and the United States. He didn’t say a word without thinking carefully.
Aware of his acumen, diplomatic awareness and understanding of the world, Israel attacked his house on Farvardin 12th (April 1st), during which his wife was instantly martyred, and he himself was seriously injured and died on Farvardin 20th (April 9th).
Although Israel’s criminal regime had announced it would target current and former Iranian officials, he remained at home and never sought a safe haven.
In a memorial message, the Islamic Republic’s new leader, Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, said: “The martyrdom of Dr. Seyyed Kamal Khalazi, a distinguished scholar of science and culture and a veteran of foreign policy, is a scroll of honor for academics, university professors and political officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and, in stark contrast, a scroll of notoriety for Iran’s arrogance.” American Zionist oppressor and enemy of Iranian science, culture, and civilization. ”
It was during his time in the cabinet that Iran’s nuclear program became a point of contention between Tehran and the United States. In order to avoid politicizing the nuclear program and prevent internal factionalism, he proposed that the Supreme National Security Council handle the issue of its members having different political preferences.
In a message, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described Karaji as a great example of “wisdom,” “deep thinking” and “commitment to the national interest.” He also said that Khalaj’s name is associated with the “sincere defense” of the “sovereignty and dignity” of the Iranian state.
To end any chance of diplomacy, the Israeli regime also martyred Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, on March 17th.
Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a message that by assassinating honorable figures like Khalaj and Ali Larijani along with their families, the invaders demonstrated their hostility towards “peace and dialogue” and the standard bearers of these two cherished principles.
In a pre-war interview with IRNA, Mr. Khalaj said there was a need for a “balance” between Iranianism, Shiiteism and Islamism.
Mr. Karaj selected moderately talented people from the SCFR think tank as his colleagues. Among them was Abbas Araghchi, until he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs by President Massoud Pezeshkian in August 2024.
To better understand his thinking and concern for Iran’s national interests, especially for the younger generation who may not have read much about his diplomatic career, it is enough to look at the congratulatory message he addressed to President Pezeshikian on July 6, 2024. In it, he said: This emphasis on the use of leading experts in the field of foreign policy ensures that under your administration the problems arising from unjustified Western sanctions will be resolved with dignity and authority.
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s anger with Iran runs so deep that he has sought and may be attempting to physically eliminate anyone who could, or could, end America and Israel’s unjust war against Iran through dignified diplomacy.
War criminal Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was unhappy with the appointment of philosopher-turned-politician Ali Larijani to the Supreme National Security Council after Iran’s 12-day war with the United States in June 2025.
However, Iranian society is dynamic and able to adapt quickly and robustly to new situations.
There is currently a two-week ceasefire between Iran and the United States brokered by Pakistan, and senior Iranian diplomats and politicians, including Foreign Minister Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, met with U.S. negotiators, including Vice President J.D. Vance, in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad on Saturday afternoon.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the level of Iran’s participation in the Islamabad talks shows Iran’s “seriousness”. He added that Iran is “well prepared” for any scenario, which could mean dialogue or a resumption of war if negotiations fail or the ceasefire is violated by Israel or the United States.
Zarif also wrote that Iran had proven its seriousness by sending officials with “the highest authority” and “capacity.”
The former top diplomat also urged Donald Trump to ignore the illusions of war criminal Netanyahu and his collaborators and seize the opportunity before it is lost.
“Iran has shown its seriousness despite repeated acts of treason by the United States by sending officials with the highest authority and ability to Islamabad, regardless of the claims,” Zarif said in a social media post. I hope President Trump understands that the only way out of the impasse he has created is to set aside the recommendations of “criminals on the run” and their accomplices and reach a deal before the opportunity is lost.”
Although Kamal Khalaj is now a martyr, his legacy remains a beacon of Iranian foreign policy. This is why Araghchi says, “Undoubtedly, his hard work and thoughtful diplomatic legacy will remain like a light on the future course of Iranian foreign policy and will not be forgotten.”