What will Iran's foreign policy look like under Abbas Araghchi?
The push by the supreme leader for the appointment of moderate diplomat Abbas Araghchi as foreign minister could signal Iran's readiness to ease tensions with the West, yet the seasoned diplomat appears to be facing a bumpy road ahead.
TEHRAN — Iran's foreign policy landscape appears poised for potential shifts as Abbas Araghchi — a veteran moderate diplomat — assumed office as the country's new foreign minister after winning a vote of confidence from the hard-line-controlled parliament this week.
Araghchi, a former nuclear negotiator, is known for his close ties to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. During the parliamentary vote of confidence on Wednesday, President Masoud Pezeshkian told the lawmakers that Araghchi was Khamenei's recommended pick, an announcement that secured the diplomat's passage to the post in a parliament packed with rival conservatives.
The appointment has thus been seen by many observers as a strategic move by Iran's supreme leader aimed at revitalizing the country's strained relations with the West, particularly over the long-stalled 2015 nuclear deal.
The first days in office for the new foreign minister were marked by a flurry of diplomatic activity, as he held discussions with several European diplomats, including EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.
