Iran's Deputy President Javad Zarif Resigns Due to Long-Standing Legal Dispute, He Was a Key Architect of Iran's Nuclear Deal

Iran's Deputy President Javad Zarif Resigns Due to Long-Standing Legal Dispute, He Was a Key Architect of Iran's Nuclear Deal

Tehran, March 3 - Iran's Deputy President for Strategic Affairs, Javad Zarif, announced his resignation on Monday due to a long-standing legal dispute.

In a detailed post, Zarif said that he had worked diligently under President Masoud Pezeshkian's government for the past nine months, but had been subjected to "the most vile insults, slanders, and threats" over the past six months.

He described this period as "the most bitter" of his 40-year political career, during which there was controversy surrounding his appointment as vice president.

Zarif's critics argued that his appointment violated the constitution because his children, born in the United States, are natural-born U.S. citizens.

He said, "Over the past four decades, I have endured countless insults and accusations for my small role in advancing national interests, for completing the Iran nuclear deal, and for remaining silent in the face of lies and distortions to protect the country's interests."

Zarif, who served as Iran's foreign minister for eight years and played a key role in the 2015 nuclear deal, mentioned that the judiciary chief invited him and pointed out the current situation in the country, advising him to return to academia "to avoid further pressure on the government."

"I hope that by my resignation, the obstacles to the people's will and the government's success will be removed," Zarif said.

However, there has been no official response from the president's office regarding his resignation. Sources have indicated that the resignation will likely be accepted to relieve further pressure on the government.

On Sunday, Economy Minister Abdolnasser Hemmati was impeached by parliament due to the country's economic crisis and the depreciation of the rial.