Iranian Lawmakers Push to Remove Diplomat Amid Zero Oil Exports and U.S. Talks

Iranian lawmakers are pushing to remove Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi over his contact with envoys of former U.S. President Donald Trump. The move comes amid a severe drop in Iran's oil exports, which have reportedly fallen to zero. Lawmaker Amirhossein Sabeti filed an impeachment motion, alleging that Araghchi met with Trump envoy Steve Witkoff without approval from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. The meeting reportedly took place at the UN on September 22, with Witkoff requesting the discussion.

Both the U.S. and Iran have differing accounts of the meeting. Witkoff stated that talks occurred through mediators who shuttled between the two sides, while Iran's foreign ministry insisted all contact was mediated by Qatari intermediaries. Another lawmaker, Mojtaba Zarei, claimed Araghchi had the necessary approvals. This is not the first time Iran's parliament has ousted a minister; in March 2025, Economy Minister Abdolnaser Hemmati was voted out.

Meanwhile, U.S.-Iran relations appear uncertain. Trump initially described the New York session as 'very productive,' but by September 27, he rejected Iran's ceasefire offer, stating that Iran wanted a deal that did not align with his wishes. Despite this, he hinted at the possibility of further talks. Iran's oil exports have hit a critical low, with no crude loaded for export in September, the first time since 1979. Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad resigned on Sunday, and data shows Iran's stored crude has dropped from 90 million barrels in July to 29 million by early September.

The global oil market has felt the impact, with Brent crude, the world benchmark, falling 2.2% to $98.07 on Tuesday. Trump also mentioned considering new strikes on Iran, adding to the geopolitical tension.