Led Negotiations with the Obama Administration During Iran Nuclear Deal
Two Children Hold U.S. Citizenship After Being Born in America
Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Vice President for Strategic Affairs of Iran, a prominent anti-American country, has tendered his resignation. This is due to criticism and political attacks from hardliners within Iran over the fact that his children hold U.S. citizenship. On the 3rd (local time), Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported that Vice President Mohammad Javad Zarif expressed his resignation to the president amid political attacks, but President Masoud Pezeshkian has not yet announced whether he will accept the resignation.
Mohammad Javad Zarif, Vice President for Strategic Affairs of Iran, a representative anti-American country, has tendered his resignation. This is due to criticism and political attacks from hardliners within Iran over the fact that his children are U.S. citizens. AP·Yonhap News
The reason for Vice President Zarif's resignation is the controversy over his children's U.S. citizenship. Two of Zarif's children were born in the United States and acquired birthright citizenship while he was working at the Iranian mission to the United Nations in the U.S. Iranian hardliners have criticized Zarif's appointment as vice president, arguing that having children with U.S. citizenship violates current laws. Amid continued political attacks, Vice President Zarif lamented, "My family and I have endured the most terrible insults, slanders, and threats, making this the most difficult period in my 40 years of service." As the controversy persisted, the Pezeshkian administration submitted a bill to parliament allowing parents to hold public office if their children involuntarily acquire foreign nationality.
Vice President Zarif, who has now resigned, was the Foreign Minister during the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA - Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) and led negotiations with the Barack Obama administration in the United States. Under the nuclear deal reached with the West at that time, Iran limited its nuclear development in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions. However, the first Trump administration, which took office in 2017, unilaterally withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and imposed strong economic sanctions targeting Iran's oil exports. In response, Iran restarted its nuclear program, increasing the concentration of enriched uranium beyond the agreed level (3.67%) from 2019 and recently raising it to 60%, which is considered 'near weapons-grade.'
Iran has restarted its nuclear program, increasing the concentration of enriched uranium beyond the level promised in the 2019 nuclear agreement (3.67%), and recently raised it to 60%, which is considered 'near weapons-grade.' Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News Agency
Iran has stated that it could adjust its nuclear program if it can negotiate a new agreement with the second Trump administration. In January, at the World Economic Forum (WEF) held in Davos, Switzerland, Vice President Zarif addressed U.S. President Donald Trump, saying, "Iran has never sought nuclear weapons," and expressed hope that "the second Trump administration will be more serious and realistic this time." Meanwhile, Vice President Zarif also tendered his resignation last August, citing the lack of female ministers in the cabinet formed after the election of reformist President Pezeshkian, but withdrew his resignation and returned by the end of August. It is reported that the issue of his children's citizenship also partially influenced his resignation at that time.
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