Hossein Sheikholeslam

Hossein Sheikholeslam (; 29 November 1952 – 5 March 2020) was an Iranian conservative politician and diplomat who was advisor to the foreign minister Javad Zarif. He also was a member of the Seventh Islamic Parliament of Iran and previously the Iranian ambassador to Syria. Sheikholeslam was Assistant to the parliament Speaker Ali Larijani for the International Affairs. Sheikholeslam was one of the students/militants who held Americans hostage during the Iran hostage crisis.

Sheikholeslam died as a result of COVID-19 on 5 March 2020.

Political views

Israel In 2014, Sheikholeslam stated that "the issue of Israel's destruction is important, no matter the method," and emphasized that Iran would "implement the strategy of the Imam Ruhollah Khomeini and the Leader [ Ali Khamenei] on the issue of destroying the Zionists." Sheikholeslam warned that "the region will not be quiet so long as Israel exists in it."