Iranian Lawmakers File Impeachment Motion Against Foreign Minister Araghchi

Iranian lawmakers have filed an impeachment motion against Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, following criticism over his reported contacts with US officials during last month’s United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The motion was registered in Iran’s parliament by lawmaker Amirhossein Sabeti, who is seeking an investigation into Araghchi’s reported interaction with US officials, including US envoy Steve Witkoff, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

Sabeti has accused Araghchi of engaging in contacts with the American side without the necessary authorisation from Iran’s leadership. He asked Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf to refer the matter to the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission.

The reported contact between Araghchi and Witkoff took place on September 22 during the UN General Assembly, as Washington and Tehran remained engaged in indirect efforts to address the conflict and tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear programme.

Criticism of Araghchi has centred on whether he had sufficient authority to engage directly with US officials. Some Iranian lawmakers have argued that he should have communicated Tehran’s position only through intermediaries.

However, there is disagreement within Iran’s political establishment over whether Araghchi acted without authorisation. A member of Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Mojtaba Zarei, said the foreign minister had received the necessary authorisation and was implementing decisions made by Iran’s governing institutions.

The impeachment request has been registered electronically, but it has not yet been referred to the parliamentary presiding board. Iranian parliamentary officials have also indicated that registering the motion does not automatically mean that an impeachment hearing will be approved or scheduled.

The move comes as Araghchi remains involved in diplomatic efforts surrounding the conflict with the United States. After returning from New York, he briefed President Masoud Pezeshkian and the Iranian Cabinet on a US response to Tehran’s latest proposal aimed at easing the conflict.

The impeachment push therefore adds another layer of political pressure on Araghchi as Iran weighs its diplomatic options with Washington. For now, the motion remains at the parliamentary filing stage, with no impeachment proceeding against the foreign minister formally scheduled.