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Source: Global Times

[Global Times Special Correspondent in Iran Bao Xiaolong] According to the Tehran Times on the 2nd, Iran's new President Massoud Pezeshkian issued a decree to formally appoint Mohammad Javad Zarif as "Deputy for Strategic Affairs" and Director of the Presidential Center for Strategic Studies (CSS). This important figure who served as Iranian Foreign Minister during the Rouhani government from 2013 to 2021 and the chief negotiator of the Iranian nuclear negotiations from 2013 to 2015 has once again entered people's field of vision.

Zarif, former Iranian foreign minister and current president's "deputy for strategic affairs" Source: Visual China

Zarif was born in 1960 in a wealthy family in Tehran. His father was a famous businessman and his mother was the daughter of a businessman in Tehran. Zarif's biography "Hello Ambassador" mentioned that his father was a "devout believer" who was very strict with him. When he was a child, he had excellent academic performance and had an extraordinary talent for public speaking. He once gave a speech as a student representative of his religious school. At the age of 17, Zarif was sent to the United States by his father to study in high school, and later entered the University of San Francisco to study computer science. In the United States, Zarif was influenced by the Iranian Islamic Revolution and became interested in international relations. He obtained a master's and doctoral degree in international relations from the University of Denver in the United States.

After the outbreak of the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979, Zarif began to help with the transition of the Iranian regime at the Iranian Mission to the United Nations because he was familiar with English and international law. In 1985, he became a formal employee of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He recalled that the situation of Iranian diplomats at the United Nations was extremely difficult at that time. His salary was also very low, and he was often harassed by his peers, but this did not affect his gradual emergence in the Iranian diplomatic community. After Khatami, who was born in the reformist faction, became president, Zarif was appointed as Iran's permanent representative to the United Nations. During his five years working at the United Nations (2002-2007), he gradually formed a unique understanding of Iranian diplomacy. After the hard-line Ahmadinejad became the president of Iran, he left the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and went to teach international relations at many domestic universities until Rouhani came to power and appointed him as foreign minister.

As a senior figure in Iran's diplomatic community, Zarif proposed Iran's diplomatic and strategic policy. He believes that the power of the United States is shrinking and a multilateral pattern is taking shape. Iran will continue to "softly" compete with the United States, not seeking direct confrontation and conflict, but also not seeking negotiations. At the same time, Iran also needs to build closer relations with regional countries and countries other than the United States and its allies, including China. During his time abroad, he participated in various major foreign affairs activities, witnessed and participated in many cooperation and negotiations between Iran and the international community, and has rich experience and excellent performance. During his tenure as foreign minister, Zarif led a number of projects and successfully exerted "Iranian influence" on Western public opinion. Former US Secretary of State Kissinger once gave him a book when he left the United Nations, with the words "To my most respected enemy" written on the title page. Some people commented that Zarif is an idealist and a realist who puts national interests first. He believes in Islam and the Islamic Republic system, and hopes that through his own efforts, Iran will develop and be respected internationally.

Zarif has always been at odds with Iranian hardliners, and has had tense relations with domestic hardline politicians and senior generals of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran. After leaving office in 2021, Zarif once "completely retired" and only taught. It was not until President Raisi died unexpectedly in 2024 that he "came out" and fully supported Pezeshkian in the presidential election against other presidential candidates. Zarif once made a speech during the election, saying that "extremism and hardliners can only show our weaknesses." He called on the public to vote rationally and cast their votes for clean, professional, brave and honest candidates. Zarif absolutely contributed to Pezeshkian's victory in this Iranian presidential election.

According to Iran International TV, the position of "Deputy for Strategic Affairs" was created by Pezeshkian specifically for Zarif, and it did not exist in the Iranian government before. Zarif made it clear that this new position "will not establish any new bureaucratic institutions or mechanisms, will not burden the government budget or the people's agenda, will not interfere with the existing government operations, and will not weaken the functions of any organization", saying that "this role will become a bridge between the government, the people, think tanks and civil institutions". He also said that no new organization will be established for this purpose, and the office will be located in the presidential palace and report directly to the president. His main job is to provide advice to the heads of administrative departments on strategic issues, while "monitoring major developments at home and abroad, and assessing the success of achieving the overall policy goals approved by the constitution, vision documents and the Supreme Leader". In addition, Zarif is also responsible for presiding over the daily work of CSS. The agency is an affiliated agency of the Iranian Presidential Palace and is the official think tank of the Iranian government. It is responsible for proposing plans and suggestions related to national strategies in the political, economic, social and cultural fields to the government.

Regarding Zarif's return, former senior Indian diplomat Badra Kumar wrote on his political commentary website Inidia Punchline that this may indicate that Iran will use "smart power" to attack Israel in the future. Zarif's return will be seen by the international community as a symbol of Iran's renewed push for nuclear negotiations, which may open the way for the West to lift sanctions on Iran and start extensive cooperation, which is exactly what Israel does not want to see.