Iran's foreign minister Zarif unexpectedly announces resignation

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif announced his resignation in a surprise announcement posted to his Instagram page on Monday.

“I am apologising to you for all the shortcomings … in the past years during my time as foreign minister … I thank the Iranian nation and officials,” Zarif wrote on his Instagram page.

A foreign ministry spokesman, Abbas Mousavi, confirmed to the state-run IRNA news agency minutes later that Zarif had resigned.

Zarif has served as Iran’s foreign minister since 2013. He also played a prominent role in negotiating the landmark 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and major international powers.

The reasons for his resignation remain unclear so far.