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| Mohammad Javad Zarif: Iran's foreign minister announces resignation | Mohammad Javad Zarif: Iran's foreign minister announces resignation |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said he is stepping down, in a surprise announcement posted to his Instagram account. | Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said he is stepping down, in a surprise announcement posted to his Instagram account. |
| He apologised for "shortcomings" during his time in government. | He apologised for "shortcomings" during his time in government. |
| Mr Zarif played a prominent role in negotiating the landmark 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and major international powers. | Mr Zarif played a prominent role in negotiating the landmark 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and major international powers. |
| But the future of the deal has been put into doubt after US President Donald Trump ended US involvement. | But the future of the deal has been put into doubt after US President Donald Trump ended US involvement. |
| Mr Zarif's resignation was confirmed by Iran's state-run news agency, IRNA, which cited a spokesman for the foreign ministry. | Mr Zarif's resignation was confirmed by Iran's state-run news agency, IRNA, which cited a spokesman for the foreign ministry. |
| Why has he quit? | |
| It is far from clear. His post on Instagram thanked the Iranian people and authorities but gave no reason for the resignation. | |
| "I apologise for not being able to continue in the post and for all the shortcomings and flaws in the period," he wrote. | |
| Unlike other major social media networks, Instagram is not blocked in Iran. | |
| It is not clear if his resignation will be accepted by President Hassan Rouhani. | |
| Mr Zarif has been under pressure at home from hardliners since the US withdrew from the Iranian nuclear pact. | |
| On Monday Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei but analysts noticed that Mr Zarif did not attend discussions. |