Javad Zarif, Vice President for Strategic Affairs and former foreign minister, announced his departure from the Pezeshkian administration following a conversation with Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, Iran’s Judiciary Chief. Ejei had advised him “to return to academia” to ease pressure on the Pezeshkian government, per Zarif, which was advice he accepted. Zarif had faced pressure from Iran’s hardliners for months who strongly opposed his role in Pezeshkian’s government, often citing his children’s apparent dual citizenship status as a disqualifying factor in holding a government position.