I'm Ashamed...: Iran's Vice President Javad Zarif, steps down from post after two weeks

New Delhi: Javad Zarif, the former Iranian Foreign Minister and key architect of the 2015 nuclear deal, announced his resignation from the newly-appointed role of Vice President for Strategic Affairs on Monday, just two weeks after his appointment by the reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Zarif cited multiple reasons for his decision, expressing disappointment with the composition of the newly proposed 19-member cabinet, which included only one woman. He stated, "I am ashamed that I could not effectively implement the expert opinions of the committees responsible for selecting candidates and fulfill my promise to include women, youth, and ethnic groups."

سلام بر مردم بزرگوار ایران
پیام دیشب بنده به‌معنای پشیمانی و یا ناامیدی از دکتر پزشکیان عزیز و یا مخالفت با واقع‌گرایی نیست؛ بلکه به معنای تردید در مفید بودن خودم در معاونت راهبردی است.
البته برخی مردودین از جانب مردم، با تفسیر عجیبی از قانون مصوب 1401، اشتغال بنده در مشاغل حساس… pic.twitter.com/OtLynZe4DH

— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) August 12, 2024

Iran takes over the center stage

His resignation comes amid criticism from within Iran's reformist circles regarding the inclusion of conservatives in the cabinet, some of whom had served under the late President Ebrahim Raisi. Zarif also disclosed that he faced pressure following his appointment due to his children's U.S. citizenship, a sensitive issue given the strained relations between Iran and the United States.

In his resignation announcement on X (formerly Twitter), Zarif emphasized that his decision was not out of regret or disappointment with President Pezeshkian. Instead, he questioned his own effectiveness in the role of Vice President for Strategic Affairs. Zarif expressed his intention to return to academia and distance himself from Iran's domestic politics.

Zarif's previous works 

Zarif previously served as Iran's top diplomat from 2013 to 2021 under moderate President Hassan Rouhani. He gained international recognition during the extensive negotiations for the Joint  Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which was later undermined by the U.S. withdrawal in 2018 under President Donald Trump.