Iran's ex-foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, declared his return to the role of vice-president under Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday, following his earlier resignation this month. Pezeshkian appointed Zarif as vice-president for strategic affairs on August 1, but Zarif stepped down shortly after, expressing dissatisfaction with the cabinet's composition and facing criticism due to his children's dual US citizenship. Conservative critics in Iran have been vocal against Pezeshkian's selection of Zarif, who played a crucial part in the 2015 nuclear agreement negotiations with global powers.
Zarif announced on X that, following discussions with the president and under his directive, he would resume his responsibilities as Strategic Vice-President. He attended the inaugural meeting of the new cabinet with Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and commended the new cabinet in his post. Last week, the new cabinet received unanimous confidence votes from parliament, a rare occurrence in Iran's recent political history.
Zarif, who has been Iran's representative at the United Nations, served as foreign minister from 2013 to 2021 under President Hassan Rouhani. The 2015 nuclear deal, which was later abandoned by the US, not only solidified Zarif's status as a tough negotiator but also marked a significant shift in Iran's diplomatic approach towards the West.
