Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran

Tehran, Mar 3: Javad Zarif, Iran's Vice President for Strategic Affairs, resigned for the second time since his appointment in August 2024. Zarif announced his decision on Monday, stating that he had stepped down after receiving advice from Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Ejei, the head of Iran's judiciary. Zarif said the move was made to relieve pressure on the administration of President Masoud Pezeshkian.

In a post on X on Monday, Zarif explained that he had been invited to meet with Ejei on Saturday. During their discussion, Ejei recommended that Zarif return to teaching at the university to reduce the burden on the government, given the current circumstances in the country. Zarif said he respected this advice and chose to step down, as he had always intended to be "helpful, not a burden."

Zarif added that by resigning, he hoped to remove any obstacles preventing the administration from fulfilling the people's will and achieving success. He expressed his continued support for President Pezeshkian and wished the administration the best.

"I remain proud to have supported the honorable Dr. Pezeshkian and wish him and other true servants of the people every success," Zarif wrote, as reported by the official IRNA news agency.

Background and Controversy

Zarif's resignation comes amidst ongoing criticism from members of the Iranian parliament, who have challenged his appointment on legal grounds. Some lawmakers argue that his role as Vice President is illegal because one of his children holds US nationality, a situation that violates Iranian law. According to Iranian law, individuals with foreign citizenship or whose immediate family members possess foreign citizenship are prohibited from holding sensitive government positions.

Since his appointment, Zarif has faced intense scrutiny over this issue, with many lawmakers continuing to press for action regarding his "illegal" appointment.

Zarif had initially resigned 10 days after his appointment as Vice President, citing dissatisfaction with his work in selecting members for the new administration's cabinet. However, he later withdrew his resignation following President Pezeshkian's interventions and consultations.

Zarif's resignation is now pending a response from President Pezeshkian, who has received the resignation letter but has not yet commented on the matter.