Iran’s Vice President Resigns After Just 11 Days in Office, Plunging Pezeshkian’s Government into Crisis

Iran’s political landscape was shaken on Monday when Vice President Mohammed Javad Zarif announced his resignation just 11 days after his appointment. Zarif’s unexpected departure marks the second major crisis for President Massud Pezeshkian since he assumed office at the end of July.

In a statement posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Zarif cited dissatisfaction with his role and his inability to meet expectations as the reasons for his resignation. He also suggested that disagreements over the selection of ministers for Pezeshkian’s new cabinet played a significant role in his decision to step down.

“At least seven of the 19 ministers nominated were not my first choice,” Zarif revealed, indicating a rift between his preferences and the final selections made by President Pezeshkian. This has fueled speculation that Iran’s hardline conservative faction may have exerted influence over the cabinet appointments.

Zarif, a prominent moderate politician, was a key figure in Pezeshkian’s presidential campaign, significantly contributing to his victory. He was expected to help shape the new administration’s reformist agenda. However, the list of ministers presented by Pezeshkian on Sunday reportedly did not align with the promised reforms, leading to Zarif’s disillusionment.

This resignation follows closely on the heels of another crisis for Pezeshkian: the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, an incident that has further complicated the President’s early days in office.

Zarif’s departure is particularly significant given his history as Iran’s chief diplomat from 2013 to 2021. He was instrumental in negotiating the 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers. His presence in Pezeshkian’s administration was seen as crucial to the resumption of nuclear negotiations, aimed at lifting the crippling sanctions on Iran’s economy.

With Zarif’s exit, the future of these negotiations and Pezeshkian’s broader reform agenda now hang in the balance as the new president grapples with growing challenges both domestically and internationally.