The Iranian parliament's security committee has requested the annulment of Mohammad Javad Zarif’s appointment as Masoud Pezeshkian’s vice president for strategic affairs on the grounds of his family holding dual citizenship.
On Monday, the committee’s spokesman cited a law that bans individuals with dual citizenship or close relatives with dual citizenship from holding sensitive positions as the basis for the action.
Zarif's children automatically received US citizenship after being born in New York while he served a large part of his career with the Iranian delegation at the United Nations.
Although his children now reside in Iran, the Law on the Appointment of Individuals to Sensitive Positions, enacted in October 2022, bans Zarif from holding his position as vice president for strategic affairs.
The law was not passed when he was chosen as foreign minister under former President Hassan Rouhani from 2013-2021.
