Iran’s Vice President Mohammad Javad Zarif has resigned from his post only 11 days after being appointed by President Massud Pezeshkian. Zarif announced his resignation via his X account, citing dissatisfaction with his performance and his inability to meet expectations.
In his statement, Zarif highlighted disagreements over the selection of Pezeshkian’s new cabinet, noting that seven of the 19 ministerial nominees were not his preferred choices. This divergence reportedly led to his decision to step down.
Zarif’s departure adds to the challenges facing President Pezeshkian, who has been in office since late July. This period has been turbulent, marked by the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
Zarif, a prominent figure in Pezeshkian’s presidential campaign, was integral in securing Pezeshkian’s victory due to his popularity. He was responsible for proposing candidates that aligned with the promised reforms. However, the final list of ministers announced by Pezeshkian appeared to stray from Zarif’s vision and the intended reform agenda.
There are speculations that Iran’s hardline conservative faction may have influenced the cabinet appointments, possibly overriding Zarif’s recommendations. Zarif, who served as Iran’s foreign minister from 2013 to 2021, was also instrumental in shaping Iran’s foreign policy and negotiating the 2015 nuclear deal.
