Iran’s Vice President Mohammed Javad Zarif has resigned from his position, leaving President Massud Pezeshkian’s cabinet just 11 days after his appointment.
“I am not satisfied with my work and regret that I have not been able to fulfill expectations,” Zarif announced on his X platform, hinting that the selection of ministers for Pezeshkian’s new cabinet was the primary reason for his departure.
Zarif revealed that at least seven of the 19 ministers nominated were not his first choices, leading to his decision to step down.
This marks the second major crisis for Pezeshkian since taking office at the end of July, following the assassination of Palestinian militant Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
Zarif had been a key figure in Pezeshkian’s presidential campaign and played a significant role in his victory due to his popularity.
After the election, Zarif and a team of experts were tasked with compiling a list of government candidates who would carry out the promised reforms.
However, the list presented by Pezeshkian on Sunday appeared to deviate from those plans, leading to speculation that Iran’s hardline arch-conservative faction influenced the selection of certain ministers.
As one of the main figures behind Pezeshkian’s new foreign policy direction, Zarif’s resignation is a significant blow.
Previously serving as Iran’s chief diplomat from 2013 to 2021, Zarif was instrumental in negotiating the 2015 international nuclear agreement with six world powers.
Pezeshkian had hoped that with Zarif and a new team of diplomats, nuclear negotiations could resume, potentially leading to the lifting of sanctions that have severely impacted Iran’s economy.
