Iran’s Vice-President, Mohammed Javad Zarif has resigned from President Massud Pezeshkian’s cabinet just 11 days after assuming office.
Zarif who announced his resignation on X, “I am not satisfied with my work and regret that I have not been able to fulfil expectations”, hinted that the selection of ministers for Pezeshkian ‘s new cabinet had been the reason for his decision.
At least seven of the 19 ministers nominated were not his first choice, according to Zarif.
His withdrawal is the second crisis for Pezeshkian since he took office at the end of July, following the killing of the Palestinian militant Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
Zarif was the country’s chief diplomat between 2013 and 2021 and was able to conclude the international nuclear agreement with the six world powers in 2015 as head of the Iranian negotiating team.
He was Pezeshkian ‘s right-hand man during his presidential election campaign and, due to his popularity, also played a key role in Pezeshkian ‘s victory.
