TEHRAN, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif seemed to have announced his resignation unexpectedly on Monday through social media.
"Thanks for the great and brave Iranians and my colleagues, but I apologize for my failure to serve you and some flaws in my work," Zarif said on his Instagram account.
He also posted a photograph with captions.
Media reports said a foreign ministry spokesman, Abbas Mousavi, confirmed minutes later that Zarif had resigned but gave no reason for his departure.
Zarif played a key role in Iran's negotiations with world powers that culminated in the landmark nuclear deal in 2015 under which Iran agreed to curb its nuclear programe in return for the lifting of international financial sanctions.
Zarif, 59, served as the permanent representative of Iran to the United Nations from 2002 to 2007.
