By Matthew Atungwu Iran’s Vice-President Mohammed Javad Zarif has resigned, leaving President Massud Pezeshkian’s cabinet just 11 da...
By Matthew Atungwu
Iran’s Vice-President Mohammed Javad Zarif has resigned,
leaving President Massud Pezeshkian’s cabinet just 11 days after his
appointment.
“I am not satisfied with my work and regret that I have not
been able to fulfill expectations,” the moderate politician said on his X
platform.
Zarif hinted that the selection of ministers for Pezeshkian
‘s new cabinet had been the reason for his decision.
According to Zarif, at least seven of the 19 ministers
nominated were not his first choice.
Zarif’s withdrawal is the second crisis for Pezeshkian since
he took office at the end of 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, due to his popularity, also played a key
role in Pezeshkian ‘s victory.
However, after the election, Zarif and a group of experts
were to compile a list of candidates for government posts who would implement
the promised reforms.
Pezeshkian presented a list on Sunday which observers
believe did not match the plans and promises of reform.
Observers assume that Iran’s hardline arch-conservative
faction imposed some ministers on Pezeshkian .
Zarif was also one of the key figures for Pezeshkian in the
implementation of his new foreign policy line.
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.
With him and a new team of diplomats, Pezeshkian hoped to resume
the nuclear negotiations so that the sanctions that are paralyzing the Iranian
economy could be lifted.
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