Iran’s foreign minister Javad Zarif announces resignation theguardian.com

The Iranian foreign minister, Javad Zarif, has resigned without warning, offering an apology to the country as the nuclear deal he negotiated with world powers stands on the verge of collapse after the withdrawal of the US. The veteran diplomat first posted an apology on Instagram for his “inability to continue to his service”. The post included a drawing of Fatima, the daughter of the prophet Muhammad, as Monday marked the commemoration of her birth. In an interview on Tuesday, published by the Jomhuri Eslami newspaper, he said fighting between parties and factions in Iran was a “deadly poison” in formulating foreign policy, suggesting he may have resigned over pressure from hardline elements opposed to his role in negotiating the landmark 2015 nuclear deal.