Iran’s Javad Zarif, the former foreign minister who was recently appointed as vice president for strategic affairs, has resigned from his position. In a social media post, Zarif announced his decision to return to his university duties just hours after ministerial nominees were submitted for approval by parliament.
Zarif, who had actively campaigned for President Masoud Pezeshkian, hinted that he would not be part of the new government. However, he was unexpectedly named as vice president for strategic affairs on Aug. 1. In his resignation statement, Zarif expressed dissatisfaction with the final ministerial selections, indicating that they did not align with the recommendations of the steering council he led.
Despite reviewing over 1,000 candidates, Zarif claimed that the outcome did not adequately reflect expert opinions or fulfill promises to include women, youth, and ethnic groups. His resignation marks the end of his involvement in domestic politics as he plans to focus on academia once again.
The 19 ministerial nominees will undergo scrutiny by parliamentary commissions before a vote of confidence on Aug. 17. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
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