The Iranian president appointed Zarif as his deputy for strategic affairs on August 1, but the former foreign minister resigned less than two weeks later, expressing his disappointment with the 19-member government.
He also said he faced pressure because his two sons hold American citizenship in addition to Iranian citizenship.
Zarif’s return is a blow to Iran’s conservatives, who have criticized Pezeshkian for choosing Zarif.
Zarif became well-known in the international arena, thanks to the prominent role he played in the negotiations that led to the conclusion of the agreement on Iran’s nuclear program in 2015.
“Following the president’s follow-ups and consultations and his written order, I will continue to perform my duties as vice president for strategic affairs,” Zarif said on the X platform.
Zarif, who attended the new government’s first meeting with Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Tuesday, also praised the new government in his post.
Last week, all members of Iran’s new government received a full vote of confidence from parliament, marking the first time the body has approved all of the president’s nominees in more than two decades.
Zarif, who represented Iran at the United Nations, served as foreign minister between 2013 and 2021, under moderate President Hassan Rouhani.
While the 2015 nuclear deal effectively collapsed three years later when the United States unilaterally withdrew from it, it helped cement Zarif’s reputation as a strong negotiator who opened Iran up to the West.
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