Abbas Araghchi

Sayyid Abbas Araghchi
سید عباس عراقچی
Araghchi in 2024
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Incumbent
Assumed office 21 August 2024
President	Masoud Pezeshkian
Preceded by	Ali Bagheri (Acting)
Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Acting
In office 11 May 2013 – 30 August 2013
President	Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Preceded by	Ramin Mehmanparast
Succeeded by	Marzieh Afkham
Ambassador to Japan
In office 28 October 2007[1] – November 2011
President	Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Preceded by	Mohsen Talaei
Succeeded by	Reza Nazarahari
Ambassador to Finland Accredited Ambassador to Estonia
In office 1999–2003
President	Mohammad Khatami
Preceded by	Hossein Rezvani
Succeeded by	Javad Kachoueian
Personal details
Born	1960 (age 63–64)[2] Tehran, Imperial State of Iran[2]
Alma mater	School of International Relations Islamic Azad University Central Tehran Branch University of Kent
Awards	Order of Merit and Management (2nd class)[3]
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	Iran
Branch/service	Revolutionary Guards
Years of service	1979–1989[4]
Battles/wars	Iran–Iraq War

Sayyid Abbas Araghchi (Persian: سیّد عباس عراقچی, pronounced [ʔæbˌbɒːse æɾɒːˈɢtʃi] ^ⓘ; born 1960) is an Iranian diplomat and politician, who is the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran since August 2024. He previously served as the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador.

Personal Life

Araghchi was born in 1960 in Tehran into a traditional family. He has three sisters and three brothers, most of whom are involved in trade and commerce. His grandfather was a carpet trader, and he lost his father at the age of 17. His two older brothers hold significant positions, with one being a member of the Board of Directors of the Exporters Union, and the other a member of the Sellers Union. His nephew, Seyed Ahmad Araghchi, served as the Deputy Governor for Foreign Exchange Affairs at the Central Bank of Iran from 2017 to 2018, but was dismissed and arrested by the judiciary following fluctuations in the foreign exchange market. Araghchi is married to Bahareh Abdollahi, and they have two sons and a daughter.^{[5][better source needed]}

Education

Abbas Araghchi earned his Bachelor's degree in International Relations from the School of International Relations, affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He then obtained a Master's degree in Political Science from Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch. Additionally, Araghchi holds a Ph.D. in Political Thought from the University of Kent.^{[6][better source needed]}

Career

Araghchi entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran in 1989. In early 1990s, he served as chargé d'affaires of the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Organization of Islamic Conference, based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.^[2]

Prior to becoming Ambassador, Araghchi served as Director General of the Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS). From 2004 to 2005, he was chancellor of School of International Relations.^[2]

He served as ambassador to Finland (1999–2003) and Japan (2007–2011).^[2]

He served as a former political deputy at the foreign ministry from 2017 to 2021. He previously held office as the Deputy for Asia–Pacific and the Commonwealth Affairs^[7] and Legal and International Affairs of the foreign ministry.^[2] He served as Iran's chief nuclear negotiator in talks with the P5+1, in Hassan Rouhani's government.^[8]

Foreign minister

See also: Foreign policy of the Masoud Pezeshkian administration

Araghchi was nominated to be President Masoud Pezeshkian foreign minister as of 11 August 2024^[9] and eventually became Minister of Foreign Affairs following a vote of confidence by the Islamic Consultative Assembly on 21 August.^[10]

Professional Background

Professional roles listed chronologically:

• Deputy Minister for Political Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2017–2021)
• Deputy Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2013–2017)
• Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (May 2013–September 2013)
• Iranian Ambassador to Japan (2007–2011)
• Deputy Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2005–2007)
• Dean of the Faculty of International Relations (2004–2005)
• Director of the First Department of Western Europe, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2003–2004)
• Iranian Ambassador to Finland (1999–2003)
• Concurrent Iranian Ambassador to Estonia (1999–2003)
• Director General of the Bureau of Political and International Studies (1998–1999)
• Editor-in-Chief of the Foreign Policy Journal at the Bureau of Political and International Studies (1998)
• Research Deputy at the Bureau of Political and International Studies (1998–1999)
• Director of the Persian Gulf Studies Center at the Bureau of Political and International Studies (1997–1998)
• Deputy Ambassador for Iran at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (1992–1997)
• Deputy Director of Islamic, Regional, and Non-Aligned Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1991–1993)
• International Affairs Expert, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1988–1991)^{[11][better source needed]}

References

1. "Araghchi became Iranian Ambassador to Tokyo". Iranian Students' News Agency (in Persian). 28 October 2007. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
2. "Deputy for Legal & International Affairs". Islamic Republic of Iran Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
3. "Iran's FM, nuclear chief, DM receive medals for role in nuclear deal". Iranian Students' News Agency. 8 February 2016. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
4. Marie Donovan; Paul Bucala & Caitlin Shayda Pendleton (15 June 2016), "Iran News Round Up: Former IRGC commander: Our ambassadors in Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria are Quds Force members", AEI Critical Threats Project, with contributors Ken Hawrey and Shayan Enferadi, retrieved 10 September 2017
5. "سید عباس عراقچی". دانشنامه ویکیدا (in Persian). 2024-08-11. Retrieved 2024-10-16.
6. "سید عباس عراقچی - دانشنامه ویکیدا". fa.wikida.ir (in Persian). Retrieved 2024-08-17.
7. "Seyyed Abbas Araghchi became Asia–Pacific Deputy of Minister of Foreign Affairs". Iranian Students' News Agency (in Persian). 24 December 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
8. "Iran Demotes Top Nuclear Diplomat in Foreign Ministry Reshuffle". BNN Bloomberg. 14 September 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-09-23.
9. "Iran's president proposes an ex-nuclear negotiator as foreign minister. A woman is also on the list". Associated Press. 11 August 2024. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
10. "Iran's hard-line parliament approves all members of president's Cabinet, first time since 2001". Associated Press. 21 August 2024. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
11. "معرفی و مشخصات کامل و سوابق". دانشنامه ویکیدا (in Persian). 2024-08-11. Retrieved 2024-11-04.

External links

Media related to Abbas Araghchi at Wikimedia Commons

Political offices
Preceded by Ali Bagheri (acting)	Minister of Foreign Affairs 21 August 2024 – present	Incumbent
Diplomatic posts
New title Office established	Vice Minister for Political Affairs 24 December 2017 – 14 September 2021	Succeeded by Ali Bagheri
Preceded by Mohammad Javad Zarif as Chief Nuclear Negotiator	Head of Iran's Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action Follow-up Commission 22 September 2015 – 2021	Succeeded by Ali Bagheri
Preceded by Mohammad-Mehdi Akhoundzadeh	Vice Minister for Legal and International Affairs 1 September 2013 – 24 December 2017	Vacant Office abolished
Preceded by Ramin Mehmanparast	Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran 2013	Succeeded by Marzieh Afkham
Preceded by Unknown	Vice Minister for Asia–Pacific and the Commonwealth Affairs 24 December 2011 – 30 August 2013	Succeeded by Unknown
Preceded by Unknown	Vice Minister for Legal and International Affairs December 2005 – 27 October 2007	Succeeded by Unknown