Iran’s Deputy President Javad Zarif Resigns Amid Legal Controversy

Tehran: Iran's deputy president for strategic affairs, Javad Zarif, announced his resignation on Monday following a long-running legal row over his appointment. According to National News Agency - Lebanon, Zarif detailed his decision in a post on X, expressing that he had committed himself to President Masoud Pezeshkian's administration over the past nine months. During this time, Zarif claimed to have faced "the most vile insults, slanders, and threats directed at myself and my family" over a six-month period, which he described as the most challenging of his 40-year political career. This turmoil was attributed to the controversy over his appointment as vice president, with critics arguing that it breached the Constitution since his children, born in the US, are natural-born US citizens. In his resignation letter, Zarif reflected on his four-decade political journey, noting the numerous accusations he had faced while working for national interests, including his contributions to ending the Iran-Iraq war and finalizing the nuclear agreement in 2015. He stated that his silence in the face of falsehoods was to safeguard national interests. Zarif, who previously served as foreign minister under President Hassan Rouhani, was advised by the judiciary chief to return to academia to alleviate pressure on the government. Zarif expressed hope that his resignation would eliminate barriers to the people's will and assist the government's progress. Conservative political factions had exerted substantial pressure on him, urging parliamentary action for his removal from office. Despite past speculations about his resignation, Zarif had consistently dismissed them. There has been no official response from President Pezeshkian's office regarding the acceptance of Zarif's resignation. However, insiders suggest that the resignation is likely to be accepted to relieve governmental pressure. In related news, Economy Minister Abdolnasser Hemmati faced impeachment by parliament on Sunday due to escalating economic challenges and the devaluation of the rial.