Tehran: Vice-President for Strategic Affairs Javad Zarif, a prominent figure within President Masoud Pezeshkian's administration, has been notably absent from public engagements in recent weeks. Once considered a key advocate for negotiations with Iran's adversaries, Zarif's low profile has sparked speculation about his current role and influence.
According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Zarif's visibility has been affected by a challenge from Iranian lawmakers aiming to remove him from strategic decision-making positions due to his children's U.S. nationality. Iranian law prohibits individuals or their immediate family members who hold foreign citizenship from holding sensitive government posts. Despite this, Zarif retains his position in the administration, although political pressure continues to mount.
The Pezeshkian administration has proposed a bill to Parliament to amend the law, allowing individuals whose children acquired foreign nationality involuntarily to serve in such roles. Zarif's children, born in the U.S. during his academic tenure there, are considered natural-born U.S. citizens, yet they reside in Iran. While the legislation is under consideration, the issue remains unresolved, even as Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, reportedly supports the legal reform.
Zarif's recent absence extended to his departure for the 2025 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Although his agenda was publicly announced, rumors of potential meetings with U.S. officials emerged, which his office later dismissed. This absence coincides with increasing concerns regarding the potential return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, raising questions about Zarif's reduced public presence.
Zarif's history as Iran's chief negotiator in the landmark nuclear deal with six world powers, from which Trump later withdrew, adds to the intrigue surrounding his current role. During Pezeshkian's presidential campaign, Zarif was a staunch supporter, and his appointment as vice-president for strategic affairs underscored the president's esteem for Zarif's diplomatic acumen.
President Pezeshkian, like Zarif, has expressed openness to negotiating with the U.S. if assurances of American compliance are provided. A source close to the Reformist faction told IRNA that while Zarif supports negotiations, he is unlikely to be a central figure due to opposition in Parliament. Nonetheless, he is expected to be consulted by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and President Pezeshkian if talks proceed. Araghchi, considered amenable to the Principlist faction, was Zarif's deputy during previous negotiations.
The political sensitivity surrounding potential U.S. negotiations remains high. Past interactions, such as Zarif's handshake with then-U.S. President Barack Obama, illustrate the delicate balance of diplomatic gestures and domestic political costs. Zarif is acutely aware of the political ramifications, particularly in the context of a potential new engagement with the U.S., highlighting the complexities of Iran's internal and external diplomatic strategies.