And with the Iran nuclear deal facing existential challenges over the next few months, the boost for Zarif could not have come at a better time. Within five days of handing in his resignation, Mossadegh emerged greatly strengthened and more popular than ever. When the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (also known as the Iran deal) was reached, Zarif's popularity was at its peak. 01:24Trump's sabotage of the Iran deal gave space to hardliners in Iran to attack the Hassan Rouhani government for seeking to accommodate the West. In Iran, Zarif is synonymous with diplomacy.

Source: CNN March 03, 2019 22:18 UTC