clear

Creating new perspectives since 2009

Iran: Rouhani rejected FM's resignation

February 27, 2019 at 9:45 pm

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif [Arif Hüdaverdi Yaman/Anadolu Agency]

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani rejected his foreign minister’s resignation as “against national interests” on Wednesday, bolstering a moderate ally who has long been targeted by hardliners in factional struggles over the 2015 nuclear deal with the West, reports Reuters.

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, a US-educated veteran diplomat, announced his resignation on Monday in what an aide said was anger at being excluded from meetings that day with Syria’s president, who was visiting Tehran.

Two days later, he was back with his position strengthened by the president’s endorsement as well as a chorus of support from moderate lawmakers, a senior Revolutionary Guards commander and, implicitly, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

In a letter published by state news agency IRNA, Rouhani told Zarif:

As the Supreme Leader has described you as a ‘trustworthy, brave and religious’ person in the forefront of resistance against widespread US pressures, I consider accepting your resignation against national interests and reject it.

Senior Revolutionary Guards commander Qassem Soleimani said Zarif, who helped craft the pact that curbed Iran’s nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief, was the main person in charge of foreign policy and he was supported by Khamenei.

READ: FM did not know about Assad’s visit

The support came at a time when the clerical establishment is in a vulnerable position amid growing pressure from the United States, and so in need of promoting unity and keeping the reform wing on its side.

Iranian leaders reached the conclusion that Washington wants regime change after US President Donald Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal in May last year.

In many of his speeches at the time, Khamenei stressed that unity is paramount, and that remains his position as Tehran faces reimposed sanctions.