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Former Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has come under renewed attack from hardline media, with Kayhan newspaper accusing him of undermining national security and aiding Washington by portraying the Revolutionary Guards as a threat. Zarif has pushed back, arguing Iran must engage world powers from a position of self-confidence without weakness or passivity. Zarif also mocked US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his speechwriters over anti-Iranian remarks, calling into question their understanding of the issues. The exchanges reflect ongoing factional tension inside Iran over how to balance diplomacy and defiance toward the United States.