Faezeh Rafsanjani: My Father Tried to Convince Khomeini to End War with Iraq

Faezeh Rafsanjani during an electoral meeting in 2016. (AFP)
Faezeh Rafsanjani during an electoral meeting in 2016. (AFP)
TT

Faezeh Rafsanjani: My Father Tried to Convince Khomeini to End War with Iraq

Faezeh Rafsanjani during an electoral meeting in 2016. (AFP)
Faezeh Rafsanjani during an electoral meeting in 2016. (AFP)

Faezeh Rafsanjani, the daughter of late Iranian president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, revealed that her father sought an end to the Iran-Iraq war.

He proposed ending the war to then supreme leader Khomeini, but he refused, she revealed in an interview to Asharq television.

Moreover, she revealed that her father sought openness towards Saudi Arabia and backed restoring Iran’s relations with the United States.

He did not oppose ties with any country, except for Israel, she added.

Rafsanjani, who is a member of the reformist Executives of Construction Party, slammed the ruling conservatives in Iran, saying they are not seeking a nuclear deal with the West because they are actually benefitting from it.

She noted how many conservatives often slam the US and European countries, while their children purse an education in the West.

She doubted that a nuclear deal would be reached during the term of US President Joe Biden, noting that the Iranians and Americans were awaiting the outcome of the US Midterm elections.

Rafsanjani’s father had pursued reform in Iran and sought openness with neighboring countries and the West.

His daughter called on her country “to be open to the world” because few Iranians really support being closed off from it.



Iran Seeks De-escalation with Europe Ahead of Trump’s Inauguration

People walk while shopping in a street in Tehran, Iran, 13 January 2025. Iranians are facing an economic crisis that, due to recent tension between Iran, Israel, and the US, has extended. (EPA)
People walk while shopping in a street in Tehran, Iran, 13 January 2025. Iranians are facing an economic crisis that, due to recent tension between Iran, Israel, and the US, has extended. (EPA)
TT

Iran Seeks De-escalation with Europe Ahead of Trump’s Inauguration

People walk while shopping in a street in Tehran, Iran, 13 January 2025. Iranians are facing an economic crisis that, due to recent tension between Iran, Israel, and the US, has extended. (EPA)
People walk while shopping in a street in Tehran, Iran, 13 January 2025. Iranians are facing an economic crisis that, due to recent tension between Iran, Israel, and the US, has extended. (EPA)

Iran has released European detainees in an apparent bid to reduce tensions with European powers. This move coincides with the start of a second round of closed-door talks aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear deal.

The timing comes just days before US President Donald Trump, known for his “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran, was set to begin his second term.

European diplomats from France, Germany, and the UK met with their Iranian counterparts to address disputes and attempt to break the deadlock in nuclear negotiations. These talks follow a secret meeting two months ago in Geneva, which ended without progress.

Western nations remain alarmed by Iran’s nuclear advancements. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reports that Iran is the only country enriching uranium to 60% purity, close to weapons-grade levels, far beyond what is needed for civilian purposes.

Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons, claiming its program is peaceful. However, Western powers argue there is no legitimate reason for enrichment at such high levels unless it aims to produce nuclear weapons.

With negotiations stalling, both sides face growing pressure to find a diplomatic solution and avoid further escalation.

Germany’s Foreign Ministry clarified that the ongoing discussions are “consultations,” not formal negotiations.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the talks, expected to last several days, will address a wide range of issues. He added that Iran’s main goal is to lift sanctions, while also listening to concerns raised by other parties.

France’s Foreign Ministry called the meeting a sign of European commitment to finding a diplomatic solution to Iran’s nuclear program, which remains a major concern due to its rapid progress.

The talks come as Iran faces growing regional challenges, including Israeli strikes on its allies Hamas and Hezbollah, and the collapse of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, a key partner in the region.

Iran hopes these efforts will help ease tensions and improve its standing with Europe as diplomatic pressure mounts.