Iran's Deputy President Zarif Resigns After Just 10 Days in Office

Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Deputy President for Strategic Affairs and former Foreign Minister from 2013 to 2021, has resigned just 10 days after taking office. According to TASS, Zarif announced his resignation on his X microblog.

“I am not satisfied with the results of my work as head of the advisory council for the new cabinet formation. Among other issues, this has compelled me to continue my path at the university,” he wrote.

Zarif was appointed to lead the advisory council immediately after Masoud Pezeshkian's victory in the presidential elections on July 5. He was responsible for selecting candidates for the new cabinet, which was presented to Parliament for approval on August 11.

As a representative of the reformist wing of the Islamic Republic, Zarif is considered a key advocate for dialogue with the United States, which has drawn criticism from conservative factions in Iran. The diplomat was actively involved in negotiating and signing the 2015 agreement regarding Tehran's nuclear program. Following Pezeshkian's victory in the elections, Zarif declared that the new president is willing to restore the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).