Iran politician files impeachment motion against Araghchi over US contacts

Iranian politician Amirhossein Sabeti has submitted an impeachment motion against Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi for unauthorized interactions with US officials during last month's UN General Assembly in New York. Sabeti claims Araghchi's meetings with American officials were conducted without proper authorization from Iran's supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.

The motion was registered in the parliament's electronic system and is to be referred to Iran's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission for investigation. The allegations come after Sabeti criticized Araghchi's reported interaction with US envoy Steve Witkoff on September 22, stating that the contact occurred without coordination or approval from Iran's policy-making bodies.

Supreme National Security Council chief Mohsen Rezaei stated that Iran's seven conditions were to be conveyed to "mediators," implying Araghchi lacked authorization for direct interactions. However, state television claimed the meeting was prompted by repeated US requests and that Araghchi accepted it to convey Iran's positions.

Inside the parliament, Ebrahim Rezaei, a member of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, questioned Araghchi about the authorizations and policies that permitted the contact. Another committee member, Mojtaba Zarei, maintained that Araghchi had obtained necessary authorization and was executing Iran's decisions. Tasnim reported that as of Tuesday, the impeachment request had been entered into the parliament's system but had not yet been referred to the presiding board.