DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran's president, Masoud Pezeshkian, has formally approved the resignation of Mohammad Javad Zarif, a prominent vice president and key negotiator in the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. This announcement comes just as Rafael Mariano Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is set to arrive in Iran on Wednesday.
The timing of Zarif's resignation coincides with Iran's preparations for a second round of negotiations with the United States regarding its rapidly advancing nuclear program. These talks are particularly critical as tensions between the two nations, which have endured nearly half a century of enmity, continue to escalate. U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to initiate airstrikes against Iran's nuclear infrastructure if a satisfactory agreement is not reached. Concurrently, Iranian officials have increasingly hinted at the possibility of pursuing a nuclear weapon, as they accumulate uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels.
Pezeshkian expressed praise for Zarif, acknowledging his significant contributions while noting that the current administration could no longer benefit from his expertise due to certain unresolved issues. Zarif initially submitted his resignation in March, which Pezeshkian did not immediately accept. This has not been the first time Zarif employed the tactic of resignation as a form of political leverage. However, the president's statement late Tuesday confirmed that Zarif's resignation was now officially accepted.
In light of this development, Pezeshkian has appointed Mohsen Ismaili, a moderate political figure and legal expert, as the new vice president for strategic affairs. In Iran's political framework, multiple vice presidents serve the president, and Ismaili's appointment is seen as a shift toward a more moderate leadership.
Meanwhile, Grossi's visit is critical as IAEA access to Iran has been increasingly restricted. Since the collapse of the nuclear deal in 2018, Iran has resumed uranium enrichment with no limits, reaching levels of up to 60% purity, close to the weapons-grade threshold of 90%. The agency has faced disruptions in its surveillance operations and has been denied access to some of its most seasoned inspectors. These developments have ignited widespread concern among the West and the IAEA regarding Iran's potential ambitions for nuclear weaponization, especially after Tehran abandoned its formal organized weapons program in 2003.
Upcoming negotiations between Iran and the U.S. will heavily rely on the IAEA's technical expertise to ensure compliance with any proposed agreements. Although tensions persist between Iran and the IAEA, the agency's access is not entirely revoked and is still critical for monitoring Iran's nuclear capabilities. As these negotiations are anticipated to advance, the specific location of the discussions remains ambiguous, with an initial indication of Rome as a host. However, Iranian officials have insisted they would prefer Oman, while U.S. officials have not yet clarified their stance.
In recent statements, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi alerted the U.S. against sending contradictory messages during the negotiations. His comments closely reference remarks made by U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff, who suggested there could be an arrangement for Iran to revert to a 3.67% uranium enrichment level similar to that agreed upon in the 2015 deal. However, Witkoff later stated that any deal would have to reflect President Trump's demands.
Araghchi emphasized the importance of consistency from the U.S. in the talks, asserting that the right to uranium enrichment is non-negotiable for Iran. He described enrichment as an accepted and real issue while expressing readiness for trust-building measures to address potential concerns.
