The story: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has made stinging remarks directed at Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. This comes in the aftermath of the ongoing controversy over Zarif’s leaked criticisms of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Russia in an interview recorded for internal archival purposes. While many believe that Khamenei’s description of the criticisms as a “big mistake” may terminate the foreign minister’s likely presidential run, hardliners are hoping that it will end his political career altogether.

The coverage: Without referring to Zarif by name, Khamenei asserted in a speech on May 2 that...