TEHRAN – Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s vice president of strategy, announced his resignation and said high-ranking officials had been instructed to resign.
In a post on his social media X account, Zarif said, “The Attorney General advised him to return to academia to prevent further pressure on the government, given the current situation in the country, and he quickly accepted.”
He revealed that he had met with Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei. Zarif added that he hopes his departure will remove the obstacles facing the administration.
Despite the publication of Zarif, government spokesman Fatemeh Mohajerani revealed that President Masoud Pezeshkian has not yet accepted his resignation.
Speaking to the IRNA on Monday, Mohajerani also addressed the possibility of additional changes within the government. She added that the law governing appointments to sensitive positions is currently under review by the Iranian parliament’s Social Committee, and that the authorities hope for a prompt resolution that will serve the national interest.
“We continue to be committed to the law and it is our duty to implement it,” Mohajelani said. “However, the reality is that Section 2 of this Act can lead to the loss of a considerable number of skilled professionals. We hope that a balanced approach will be adopted to prevent unnecessary confusion.”
The debate over Zarif’s position within the government stems from a legal provision that prohibits individuals from holding sensitive government positions if an individual has foreign citizenship. Under Article 2 of the Act appointing individuals to sensitive positions, Zarif’s appointment was deemed illegal as two children retained double US citizenship.
From the beginning of the Pezeskian regime, several members of the Congress have challenged Zarif’s appointment, claiming it is directly inconsistent with legal requirements. Lawmakers critical of his role have permanently sought his removal, and view his appointment as a violation of national security policies designed to limit foreign influence in key government positions.
Zarif is a veteran Iranian diplomat. He served as Iran’s foreign minister for eight years in the 2010s and was a key figure in the symbolism of the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal. He was also a professor at the famous University of Tehran for many years.