The “Right-Hand Man” of Iran’s President… Zarif Confirms His Resignation and Reveals the Reasons

4th March 2025

2 minutes read

The "Right-Hand Man" of Iran's President… Zarif Confirms His Resignation and Reveals the Reasons

What began as speculation ended with an official announcement—such was the resignation of Mohammad Djavad Zarif, the Iranian President’s Assistant for Strategic Affairs.

Late last night, several Iranian media outlets, including the Fars and Tasnim news agencies, reported Zarif’s resignation.

These reports continued to circulate across media platforms and social networks until Zarif broke his silence with a post on X, confirming his resignation.

A “Recommendation”

In his post, Zarif explained that his resignation followed a “recommendation” from the head of the judiciary to return to academia in order to ease pressure on the government.

He wrote: “Although I have faced the most absurd insults, slanders, and threats against myself and my family over the past six months, even from within the government, I have endured the most bitter period of my forty years of service.”

He added: “But I have never, and will never, shy away from hardships and difficulties in my commitment to serving this country. Over the past forty years, I have faced numerous attacks and defamation for my role in defending national interests, from lifting sanctions to finalizing the nuclear deal.”

He continued: “Yesterday, I met with the head of the judiciary, and given the country’s current situation, he advised me to return to academia to prevent further pressure on the government. I immediately accepted, as I have always wanted to be a friend, not a burden.”

Not the First Resignation

Zarif, 65, had previously resigned multiple times from his positions during the Rouhani and Pezeshkian administrations.

His resignation follows a vote in Parliament, dominated by hardline conservatives, to remove Economy Minister Abdolnaser Hemmati, a moderate figure and former governor of the Central Bank.

On Sunday, 182 out of 273 lawmakers voted in favor of Hemmati’s dismissal, amid rising tensions over Iran’s ongoing economic crisis and soaring inflation rates.

Who is Mohammad Djavad Zarif?

Zarif, who served as Iran’s Foreign Minister from 2013 to 2021 under President Hassan Rouhani, is an influential figure close to reformists, though he has no formal political affiliation. He played a pivotal role in Pezeshkian’s presidential campaign and significantly contributed to his electoral victory.

Zarif is the architect of the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and the international community, which aimed to ease sanctions in exchange for restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear program. However, the deal partially collapsed in 2018 when the United States, under President Donald Trump, withdrew from the accord and reimposed sanctions on Iran.