Iran’s Vice President, Mohammad Javad Zarif, has resigned just 11 days after his appointment, citing dissatisfaction with his work and an inability to meet expectations.
“I am not satisfied with my work and regret that I have not been able to fulfil expectations,” he wrote on X on Monday.
Zarif, who previously served as Iran’s foreign minister, indicated that disagreements over the selection of ministers for President Masoud Pezeshkian’s new Cabinet contributed to his decision.
He expressed regret over the exclusion of women, youth, and ethnic groups from the Cabinet, which he had initially promised to include.
“I am ashamed that I could not implement, in a decent way, the expert opinion of the committees (responsible for selecting candidates) and achieve the inclusion of women, youth and ethnic groups, as I had promised,” he stated.
He also faced criticism due to his children holding United States citizenship, which added pressure on him.
Although played a crucial role in Pezeshkian’s presidential campaign and was a key figure in the administration’s foreign policy, Zarif has decided to return to academia and withdraw from domestic politics.
Zarif’s resignation marks the second significant challenge for President Pezeshkian, following the recent assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
