Iran’s vice president Mohammad Javad Zarif resigns in displeasure, leaving President Massoud Pezeskian’s cabinet just 11 days after his appointment.

“I am not satisfied with my work and I am sorry that I have not been able to fulfill the expectations,” the moderate politician wrote yesterday, Sunday evening, on the X social network.

Zarif hinted that the choice of ministers for Pezheskian’s new cabinet is the reason for his decision. At least seven of the 19 appointed ministers, dwasn’t his first choice, according to Zarif.

Since taking office in late July, Zarif’s departure is the second crisis for Pezeskian, following the assassination of the leader of the Islamist Palestinian group Hamas, Ismail Haniya, in Tehran.

Zarif was Pezheskian’s right-hand man during his presidential election campaign and, due to his popularity, also played an important role in his victory. After the election, Zarif and a team of experts were to draw up a list of candidates for government posts who would implement promised reforms.

Pezheskian yesterday, Sunday, presented the list of members of his government, which observers believe is not living up to plans and promises for reforms. Observers assume that the hardline ultraconservative faction of Iran imposed on Pezheskian some ministers.

Zarif was also one of the key figures for Pezheskian in implementing his new foreign policy line.

Zarif was the country’s top diplomat from 2013 to 2021 and, as head of Iran’s negotiating team, managed to seal the 2015 international agreement with the six major powers on Iran’s nuclear program.

With him and a new group of diplomats, Pezeskian hoped to resume nuclear negotiations so that the sanctions crippling Iran’s economy could be lifted.