John Kerry and Mohammad Javad Zarif Win 2016 Chatham House Prize

Mohammad Javad Zarif and John Kerry, the foreign ministers of Iran and the United States, have been awarded the annual Chatham House Prize, an independent think tank and research center in London. The Chatham House Prize is awarded by members of the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London to individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to improving international relations in the past year. This year, the members selected John Kerry and Mohammad Javad Zarif for their continuous efforts in 2015 to reach a historic nuclear agreement between Iran and global powers, which is considered one of the most important diplomatic disputes of the 21st century. Chatham House stated in a released statement that this agreement, which many believed was impossible, was ultimately achieved by resolving technical complexities and internal opposition in both the U.S. and Iran after more than three decades of hostility between the two governments. 'The leadership role of John Kerry and Mohammad Javad Zarif and their commitment to resolving this dispute were determining factors in the progress and successful outcome of the negotiations. They reached an agreement with the participation of officials from other permanent members of the Security Council, Germany, and the European Union, which was endorsed not only by the United Nations Security Council but also by 90 other countries. This was a victory for diplomacy and the prevention of nuclear weapons proliferation.' The nomination and selection process for this award by Chatham House, which is an independent and impartial institution, is based on the knowledge of this research institute in the field of international relations, making its award unique and significant in the realm of international relations. The annual Chatham House Prize has been awarded since 2005, with previous winners including Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the pro-democracy movement in Burma, Médecins Sans Frontières, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Melinda Gates, co-founder of the Gates Foundation. Bahram Qasemi, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, stated on Monday evening: 'Mohammad Javad Zarif considers the special award from the prestigious international institution Chatham House to belong to the resilient nation of Iran.' According to the spokesperson, 'Mr. Zarif will not attend the award ceremony due to a busy schedule and numerous work commitments.' Bahram Qasemi also mentioned that Mr. Zarif views this award as belonging to the Iranian people due to their bravery and perseverance against pressures and sanctions in recent years.