Tehran (Agencies): Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has abruptly tendered his resignation.
Zarif gave no explanation for his resignation.
The US-educated, who was also the lead negotiator in a landmark 2015 nuclear deal with major powers, extended gratitude for the generosity of the people of Iran and apologized for his inability to continue serving.
“I apologise for my inability to continue serving and for all the shortcomings during my term in office,” Zarif said in the message posted on his verified Instagram account.
Zarif, 59, has served as Rouhani's foreign minister since August 2013 and has been under constant pressure from hardliners who opposed his policy of detente with the West. He thanked Iranians and “respected officials” for their support “in the last 67 months”.
The resignation was confirmed by an informed source, however in a tweet, Rouhani's chief of staff strongly denied reports it had been accepted by the president.