11-Day Tenure: Zarif Resigns as Iran’s Vice President

Mohammad Javad Zarif has announced his resignation from President Massud Pezeshkian’s government after just eleven days in office as Iran’s Vice President.

Zarif said he failed to meet expectations and had disagreements about making the Cabinet more inclusive and wasn’t satisfied with his work and couldn’t meet expectations.

In a statement on Monday, August 12, 2024, Zarif said, “I’m not happy with my work, and I regret not meeting expectations.” He was sorry he couldn’t keep promises, especially about including women, young people, and ethnic groups in the new Cabinet.

Zarif, who used to be the foreign minister, said disagreements about ministerial appointments and excluding diverse groups from the Cabinet contributed to his decision. He felt “ashamed” that he couldn’t implement recommendations or achieve promised inclusivity.

According to Zarif, at least seven of the 19 ministers nominated weren’t his first choice. He also faced criticism because his children hold US citizenship, adding pressure to his role.

Despite his significant contributions to Pezeshkian’s presidential campaign and foreign policy, Zarif has decided to leave domestic politics and return to academia.

Zarif’s resignation is the second major challenge for President Pezeshkian’s administration, following the recent assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.