Iran’s ‘Progressive’ VP Quits Amid Conservative Pressure, Threats

Iran’s former foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, a key architect of the 2015 nuclear deal with the US and Europe, resigned from his position as vice president for strategic affairs Monday, marking a major setback for President Masoud Pezeshkian’s reformist government as hardliners consolidate power, the Times of Israel reported.

Zarif announced his resignation on social media, citing “the most horrible insults, slander, and threats” against himself and his family. He indicated that Iran’s judiciary chief, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, recommended his departure to “prevent further pressure on the government.”

Pezeshkian has not yet confirmed whether he has accepted the resignation, but analysts see Zarif’s departure as a sign of the administration’s weakening influence.

Zarif has long been a target of Iranian hardliners, who have opposed his diplomatic outreach and negotiations with Western powers. He is known for his key role in securing the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal that saw Iran give up its uranium enrichment efforts in return for the lifting of Western sanctions.

But that deal collapsed in 2018 after the first Trump administration withdrew the US from the agreement and reimposed sanctions on Iran.

Trump’s return to office in 2025 has led to further economic restrictions, reinforcing opposition from Iranian conservatives to engagement efforts with the West.

Analysts warned that Zarif’s departure signals a more hardline shift in Tehran, adding that the Iranian president could have “worse days ahead.” The Iranian stock market reacted negatively to both Zarif’s resignation and the recent impeachment of Finance Minister Abdolnaser Hemmati, prompting fears of further economic instability, according to the Guardian.

Pezeshkian, who campaigned on improving Iran’s international relations, now faces pressure to align with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s directive against negotiations with the US.

Meanwhile, Iran’s acceleration of uranium enrichment has increased concerns that it may be moving toward nuclear capability, raising the risk of regional escalation.