Iranian Vice President Mohammad Javad Zarif Resigns

On 2 March 2025, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Vice President for Strategic Affairs and a prominent reformist figure, tendered his resignation amidst escalating political tensions and economic challenges within the country. This development signifies a deepening rift between reformist elements and hardline factions in Iran's political landscape.​

Zarif, who previously served as Iran's Foreign Minister from 2013 to 2021, was instrumental in negotiating the 2015 nuclear accord with world powers. His appointment as Vice President in August 2024 by President Masoud Pezeshkian was viewed as a strategic move to re-engage with the West and alleviate the economic strain imposed by renewed U.S. sanctions. However, his tenure was marred by persistent criticism from conservative factions, primarily due to his perceived pro-Western stance and the dual nationality of his American-born children, which some argued contravened Iranian laws prohibiting officials with foreign ties from holding senior positions. ​

In his resignation letter, Zarif cited enduring "horrible insults, slander, and threats" against himself and his family over the past six months, describing this period as the most challenging in his four-decade career. He revealed that the head of the judiciary had recommended his resignation to alleviate pressure on the government, a suggestion he accepted promptly. ​

This resignation coincided with the impeachment of Finance Minister Abdolnasser Hemmati by Iran's hardline-dominated parliament, further destabilizing President Pezeshkian's administration. Hemmati's removal was attributed to the nation's ongoing economic crisis, characterized by a significant depreciation of the national currency and soaring prices of essential goods. ​

The departure of key reformist figures like Zarif and Hemmati underscores the mounting influence of hardliners within Iran's political sphere. This shift poses substantial challenges to President Pezeshkian's reformist agenda, particularly his efforts to mitigate economic hardships through diplomatic engagement with Western nations. The current political upheaval not only hampers prospects for reviving negotiations on Iran's nuclear program but also exacerbates the nation's economic woes under stringent international sanctions.

Image: Chatham House/Flickr

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