Iran president rejects FM Zarif's resignation

He is supported by the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani rejected Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif's resignation on Wednesday, the government's official website said.

"I believe your resignation is against the country's interests and do not approve it," Rouhani wrote in a letter to Zarif, the website said.

"As the Supreme Leader has described you a "trustworthy,
brave and religious" person in the forefront of resistance
against widespread US pressures, I consider accepting your
resignation against national interests and reject it," he said in a letter published on state news agency IRNA.



Earlier, a senior Revolutionary Guards commander said Zarif was the main person in charge of foreign policy and he was supported by the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“Mr Zarif is in charge of the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic, and has always been supported by the top officials,” Qassem Soleimani, head of the Quds Force — the extraterritorial branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps - was quoted as saying by Fars news agency.