Iranian Vice President Mohammed Javad Zarif is stepping down, leaving the cabinet of President Massud Pezeshkian, just 11 days after his appointment.
“I am not satisfied with my work and regret that I have not been able to meet expectations,” the moderate politician said on Sunday evening in the broadcast of X.
Zarif indicated that the selection of ministers for Pezeshkian’s new cabinet was the reason for his decision. At least seven of the 19 nominated ministers were not his first choice, Zarif said.
Zarif’s withdrawal is the second crisis for Pezeshkian since he took office in late July, following the killing of Palestinian militant Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
Zarif was Pezeshkian’s right-hand man during his presidential election campaign and, because of his popularity, also played a key role in Pezeshkian’s victory. After the election, Zarif and a group of experts had to compile a list of candidates for government posts that would implement the promised reforms.
Pezeshkian presented a list on Sunday that observers say does not match the plans and promises of reform. Observers assume that Iran’s hardline arch-conservative faction has imposed some ministers on Pezeshkian.
Zarif was also one of the key figures for Pezeshkian in implementing his new foreign policy.
Zarif was the country’s top diplomat between 2013 and 2021 and, as head of Iran’s negotiating team, was able to conclude the international nuclear deal with the six world powers in 2015.
Together with him and a new team of diplomats, Pezeshkian hoped to resume nuclear negotiations so that sanctions that were crippling Iran’s economy could be lifted.
