Iran’s Vice President Mohammed Javad Zarif has resigned from President Massud Pezeshkian’s cabinet just 11 days after his appointment.
Zarif announced his decision on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “I am not satisfied with my work and regret that I have not been able to meet expectations.”
He also suggested that dissatisfaction with the selection of ministers for Pezeshkian’s new cabinet influenced his decision. Zarif noted that at least seven out of the 19 nominated ministers were not his preferred choices.
Zarif, who played a crucial role in Pezeshkian’s election campaign and was instrumental in his victory, was expected to help assemble a team to implement promised reforms.
However, the list presented by Pezeshkian on August 11 did not align with the anticipated reform agenda, leading to speculation that Iran’s hardline conservative faction may have influenced the selection.
As a key figure in Pezeshkian’s new foreign policy strategy and a former chief diplomat who led the 2015 nuclear agreement negotiations, Zarif’s resignation marks the second major challenge for Pezeshkian’s administration since he took office at the end of July, following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
