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.@JZarif has tendered his resignation as Iran's Foreign Minister. Quick thoughts on a couple of immediate questions [mini-thread]: 
2| Why do this now? Zarif has been under hardliner pressure for a long time - they strongly dislike the JCPOA, which was his signature diplomatic achievement & have never trusted him. Rumors about his departure were around for a while, but immediate trigger is unclear.
3| It might be because of his failure to push through the ratification of FATF related legislation. It might also be related to his odd exclusion from today's meetings with Assad, which he has told an internal outlet (Entekhab) undermined his credibility.
4| It might also be a tactical maneuver to discredit internal opponents and nudge the Europeans/Chinese/Russians out of their sense of complacency about Iran's continued adherence to a deal that is no longer benefiting Iran -- neither economically nor strategically...
5| Major question is whether or not the resignation will be accepted. Under @Ahmadinejad1956 in 2005-07, @JZarif was asked (forced) to stay on even though he didn't want to. Going public with the announcement might be a way of forcing the system's hand, but it might not work...
6| If resignation is accepted, not necessarily a sign of imminent policy shift on JCPOA - major foreign policy decisions are reached in consensual process. But IRI has few diplomats of Zarif's caliber & the style may change even if substance doesn't. crisisgroup.org/middle-east-no…
7| If he is replaced by @araghchi or @Dr_Vaezi, there will be more continuity than change; but if someone like @Amirabdolahian is tapped, we will witness a shift to the right. So @realDonaldTrump will get change in Tehran -- just not the kind that'd temper Iranian foreign policy.
8|8 Final thought - I'm not at all convinced by suggestions that electoral politics are a major factor in this announcement. @JZarif is a career diplomat, and has generally showed little appetite for wading into the domestic rough and tumble.
btw, this pic of @JZarif during a recent meeting of the Expediency Council over FATF speaks a 1000 words. The Council is a barometer of Iran's politics, which is clearly shifting to the right. So even if Zarif stays, he knows that he'd have very little maneuvering space...
