It was a heck of a way to start a week as the evening newscasts of ABC, CBS, NBC, and Spanish-language networks CNN en Español, Telemundo, and Univision completely blacked out the bombshell leaked audio that suggested former Secretary of State John Kerry backstabbed Israel and shared secrets with Iran’s terrorist-backing regime.
The audio of Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif and an Iranian journalist was leaked to The New York Times and an Iranian outlet based in the U.K. And according to Zarif, Kerry had confirmed Israel’s involvement in operations against Iranian forces in Syria. If true, it constituted a massive betrayal against the U.S.’s biggest ally in the region. But it didn’t garner an iota of airtime on any of those networks.
Instead of covering that major story, all three of the major broadcast networks gushed about the Oscars and how woke they were. Only the CBS Evening News noted how terrible the ratings were, without going into detail. And the Spanish-language networks touted the Latinos that won awards.
Fortunately, Fox News Channel wasn’t beholden to the Biden administration and wasn’t an ally to the Iranian regime, like those networks were. “Breaking tonight, what could be a major breach of national security and international relations at the hands of former Secretary of State and current climate adviser John Kerry,” announced Special Report anchor Bret Baier at the top of the newscast.
He added: “Democrats are dismissing any controversy, Republicans as you can imagine are not to.” That also explained the liberal media’s refusal to cover the scandal.
Noting that some Republican lawmakers were calling on Kerry to resign, State Department correspondent Rich Edson reported that “conversation leaked right in the middle of negotiations over the Iran nuclear deal.”
Further, Edson’s report disclosed just what Kerry was allegedly telling Zarif:
A leaked discussion with Iran's chief diplomat reveals just how powerful Iran’s military is. And what John Kerry was saying about one of America’s closest allies. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif claims, quote, "It was former U.S. Secretary John Kerry who told me Israel had launched more than 200 attacks on Iranian forces in Syria."
The Israeli government had no comment on Zarif’s claim. The State Department pointed to reports where the Israeli government publicly confirm the strikes.
(…)
It is unclear if Zarif mentions when Kerry may have told him this information.
“The State Department saying it's no big deal because those attacks were in the press, but it is one thing to read it in The New York Times and another thing to get a call from the former secretary of state telling you that's in fact what has happened,” Baier pointed out, following the video portion of the segment.
For his part, Edson concluded by talking about how the State Department was desperately trying to keep the situation very hush-hush.
So far, it appears the liberal media were trying to help the State Department keep the American people in the dark about Kerry's betrayal of a major U.S. ally to one of our enemies.
The censoring of this major and damaging story about John Kerry was made possible because of lucrative sponsorships from Verizon on ABC, Consumer Cellular on CBS, and Ford Motor Company on NBC. Their contact information is linked so you can tell them about the biased news they fund.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
Fox News Channel’s Special Report
April 26, 2021
6:00:30 p.m. EasternBRET BAIER: Breaking tonight, what could be a major breach of national security and international relations at the hands of former Secretary of State and current climate adviser John Kerry. It involves what Kerry told an Iranian official about Israel's involvement in attacks on the Islamic republic’s armed forces inside Syria. Democrats are dismissing any controversy, Republicans as you can imagine are not to. State Department correspondent Rich Edson has tonight's top story from the State Department. Good evening, Rich.
RICH EDSON: Good evening, Bret. And Republicans say they want an investigation some are even calling for a former Secretary Kerry’s resignation, all in response to claims from Iran's foreign minister in a conversation leaked right in the middle of negotiations over the Iran nuclear deal.
[Cuts to video]
A leaked discussion with Iran's chief diplomat reveals just how powerful Iran’s military is. And what John Kerry was saying about one of America’s closest allies. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif claims, quote, "It was former U.S. Secretary John Kerry who told me Israel had launched more than 200 attacks on Iranian forces in Syria."
The Israeli government had no comment on Zarif’s claim. The State Department pointed to reports where the Israeli government publicly confirm the strikes.
NED PRICE (State Department spokesperson): I can't speak to the accuracy of it, can’t speak to any motives that may be behind its dissemination. I would just make the broad point that if you go back and look at press recording from the time this certainly was not secret.
EDSON: It is unclear if Zarif mentions when Kerry may have told him this information. Congressman Michael McCaul, the top Republican on the House foreign affairs committee, says, quote: "If true recording is incredibly concerning… relaying sensitive information to the number one sponsor of terrorism is just unfathomable."
NATHAN SALES (former U.S. Counterterror Coordinator): Our security partnership in the region is based on the unshakable trust between the United States and Israel. We need to maintain that and sharing sensitive information like this, if it happened, could really strike at the heart of the bilateral relationship.
EDSON: The three-hour taped conversation between Zarif and an Iranian journalist leaked to the London-based news outlet Iran International and The New York Times. Fox News has not independently verified the recorded discussion.
It comes as the U.S. and Iran resumed tense discussions to try to resuscitate the 2015 nuclear agreement. Iran’s Foreign Ministry says officials there are investigating the leak.
UNNAMED IRANIAN OFFICIAL (via translator): An absolutely illegal matter has happened.
EDSON: In the conversation, Zarif gripes about Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani for undermining his diplomatic efforts, even traveling to Moscow to work with the Russians to sabotage the 2015 nuclear deal.
A U.S. air strike last year killed Soleimani, Zarif called it a major blow. Mike Pompeo was secretary of state then. He tweeting, quote: "Our administration’s exquisite strike on Qasem Soleimani had a massive impact on Iran and the Middle East. You don't have to take my word for it, ask Javad Zarif. President Biden still thinks it was a mistake."
[Cuts back to live]
State Department says this week the U.S. will begin a third round of negotiations to try to revive that 2015 nuclear agreement. A senior State Department official says there has been progress, though there needs to be much more to reach a deal. Bret.
BAIER: You know, Rich, there are many statements coming from a Republicans in various positions up on Capitol Hill about this. The State Department saying it's no big deal because those attacks were in the press, but it is one thing to read it in The New York Times and another thing to get a call from the former secretary of state telling you that's in fact what has happened.
EDSON: And you also don't know what the timing of this all is, Bret. The State Department not really wanting to comment on any of this just other than the line that you heard from the spokesperson there, but it is still unclear when the former secretary of state – if he did indeed tell the Iranians this when he did tell them that.
BAIER: Okay, we’ll continue to look at it. Rich, thank you.
