Iranian Vice President Zarif Resigns After 11 Days in Office
Iran’s Vice-President Mohammed Javad Zarif has resigned just 11 days after his appointment, leaving President Massud Pezeshkian’s cabinet. Zarif announced his resignation on his X platform, citing dissatisfaction with his performance and inability to meet expectations.
Zarif suggested that his decision was influenced by disagreements over the selection of ministers for Pezeshkian’s new cabinet. He revealed that seven out of the 19 nominated ministers were not his preferred choices, hinting at external pressures in the cabinet formation.
Zarif’s departure marks the second significant challenge for President Pezeshkian since taking office in late July, following the assassination of Palestinian militant Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Zarif, a key figure in Pezeshkian’s presidential campaign, was instrumental in his election victory due to his popularity and political influence.
After the election, Zarif, alongside a team of experts, was tasked with selecting candidates for government positions to implement promised reforms. However, the list of ministers presented by Pezeshkian on Sunday reportedly diverged from Zarif’s plans, raising concerns that Iran’s hardline arch-conservative faction had imposed some appointments.
Zarif, who served as Iran’s Foreign Minister from 2013 to 2021, was a crucial figure in the 2015 nuclear agreement with six world powers. His experience was seen as vital for Pezeshkian’s new foreign policy direction, which aimed to resume nuclear negotiations and lift the sanctions crippling Iran’s economy.
