Zarif returns as president's 'strategic deputy'

Former Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif's mid-August resignation as an aide to Iran's president was short-lived—he’s already back, proving that political exits can be as brief as a tweet.

Zarif, now back as Deputy for Strategic Affairs under President Masoud Pezeshkian, is no stranger to resignations, treating them almost like brief intermissions—having tendered five during his tenure under former President Hassan Rouhani.

After being seen in the coverage of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s meeting with Pezeshkian’s cabinet on Tuesday, Zarif confirmed his return with a tweet.

“Following the prudent negotiations and thoughtful guidance of the esteemed President, and under his formal directive, I shall, with faith in divine providence and in the hope of continued support and counsel from the noble people, continue my responsibilities as the Deputy for Strategic Affairs to the President,” he wrote.

The former diplomat also commended his team's efforts, which he led as head of a steering committee responsible for evaluating the qualifications of candidates for ministerial positions in the cabinet.

Reflecting on the committee’s work, Zarif tweeted that he takes pride in the fact that "the appointments of nearly 70% of ministers and vice-presidents, as well as a significant number of deputy ministers and organizational leaders, were the result of expert recommendations stemming from this transparent and highly participatory process".

However, here also Zarif did an obvious turnabout. He had voiced his dissatisfaction with the steering committee’s outcomes when he announced his resignation from the cabinet in mid-August. He revealed that of the 19 ministers proposed, only three were top choices recommended by the committee he chaired, while ten were not on the council's list at all, raising serious concerns about the transparency and integrity of the selection process.

The cabinet, which promised to include young leaders and embrace diversity and inclusion, was later criticized for excluding young and female Iranians, resulting in a male-dominated, aging government.

Even more troubling was the revelation that many of the ministers are familiar faces, some with ties to the IRGC and others with questionable records from their previous government roles. This has sparked significant criticism, with nearly half of the cabinet drawing disapproval from regime insiders and the local media.

As reported by Tehran's media, the primary reason for Zarif's resignation was his alleged "disqualification" from serving as the deputy due to a failure to obtain the required security clearances. This disqualification was linked to the Law on the Appointment of Individuals to Sensitive Positions, enacted on October 2, 2022, which bars those with dual citizenship or close family members holding such status from sensitive roles. Zarif's children, born in the US during his tenure at the UN in New York, automatically acquired US citizenship, which legally disqualified him from the position.

This law was not in effect during his tenure as Foreign Minister under President Hassan Rouhani from 2013-2021.

In his public resignation announcement, Zarif made it clear that his departure was not due to disillusionment with Masoud Pezeshkian’s proposed administration. Instead, he cited concerns about his effectiveness in the strategic deputy role, emphasizing that his decision was not a reflection of disappointment with Pezeshkian's leadership.

Despite his own admission that his eight years as foreign minister amounted to "zero" influence—largely due to being outmaneuvered by the IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani—Zarif’s decision to join Pezeshkian's campaign from the early days raised eyebrows.

His return to the political arena, where he previously felt powerless, has led many to question his motives.

In his new role as Pezeshkian's deputy, Zarif won’t be building new empires but will instead operate from within the presidential office, continuing the same maneuvers he perfected during Pezeshkian’s campaign—rallying support and advancing the president’s agenda. His task is to help Pezeshkian navigate the complex web of power structures, much like he did as foreign minister. This time, Zarif may believe he can wield greater influence from within the intricate corridors of power, even if it means working within the very system that once sidelined him.