Iranian Lawmaker Moves to Impeach Foreign Minister Over Unauthorized US Contacts

Iranian politician Amirhossein Sabeti has officially filed an impeachment motion against Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The move follows allegations that Mr Araghchi engaged in unauthorized contact with US officials during last month’s UN General Assembly in New York.

Mr Sabeti announced that he submitted the motion through parliament’s electronic system, urging Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf to send the case to Iran's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission. The filing claims that the meeting with American representatives occurred without permission from the leadership.

The controversy centers around interactions with US envoy Steve Witkoff on the sidelines of the General Assembly on September 22. According to the Tasnim news agency, this contact lacked coordination or approval from key policy-making bodies like the Supreme National Security Council, which intended for messages to be delivered strictly through intermediaries.

Conversely, state television reported that Mr Araghchi agreed to the meeting following multiple requests from the US, using the opportunity to communicate Tehran's conditions directly. Division remains within parliament, as Ebrahim Rezaei demanded an explanation for the authorization, while Mojtaba Zarei defended the Foreign Minister, stating he acted with proper backing from Iran’s governing structures. As of Tuesday, the impeachment request awaits referral to the presiding board.