Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 297 Foreign Minister Resigns
Naserdin looked at the resignation letter on the table, then at Pezeshkian. At 55, he was still in good health; why would he suddenly resign?

“Pezeshkian, you are one of Iran’s best diplomats, and your work is impeccable,” Nasserdin said slowly, his tone tinged with a mixture of incomprehension and concern. “If you are under too much work pressure, I can ease your burden or provide you with more support. But I don’t want you to give up because of temporary fatigue.”

Pezeshkian lowered his head, remained silent for a moment, then raised his head, his eyes showing a hint of weariness: "Shah, I am grateful for your trust and support. But my resignation is not solely due to work pressure. I have served in the government for over a decade, experiencing countless ups and downs. My Armenian identity has also placed considerable pressure on me within the government. I do not wish to let personal reasons affect the interests of the nation."

Naserdin frowned even more upon hearing this. He was aware, of course, that Pezeshkian's Armenian identity had caused some controversy within the government, but he had never imagined it would be the primary reason for Pezeshkian's resignation. He stood up, walked to the window, turned his back to Pezeshkian, and fell into deep thought. After all, everything had been going well until now; this sudden turn of events required some processing.

That's true; Iran's rising status naturally requires it to engage with more countries. Pezeshkian has been dealing with European nations for over a decade, and he's finding it increasingly difficult to keep up.

However, this is only one reason. The main reason is that Pezeshkian has been in this government for more than ten years and is one of the very few cabinet members who can be in the government.

Adding to his Armenian identity, Pezeshkian faced immense pressure within the government. Despite his outstanding performance in foreign affairs, some conservative officials maintained that a non-Persian holding such an important position was a challenge to Iranian tradition.

In recent months, undercurrents within the government have become increasingly apparent. Some officials have begun to openly question Pezeshkian's loyalty, and some have even spread rumors that he has secret connections with foreign powers. Although these claims lack concrete evidence, they have caused considerable turmoil within the government.

Pezeshkian knew these rumors and doubts were not unfounded. His Armenian identity did indeed place him in a delicate position within the government. Although he remained loyal to Iran, he also understood that his presence could become a target for attack. To avoid causing unnecessary trouble for the country, he chose to resign.

After much deliberation, Nasser al-Din finally accepted Pezeshkian's resignation. However, he then found him a suitable position: the president of the Iranian Association for Friendship and Exchange with Foreign Countries.

This association was founded in 1855 after Nasser al-Din's visit to Europe, with the aim of increasing awareness of Iran among more countries and people. It currently has branches in 15 countries, including the UK, France, Austria, Prussia, Spain, the US, and the Far East, and is used to promote economic, trade, and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

Taking the Iran-Austria Friendship and Exchange Association as an example, since its establishment, it has further enhanced mutual understanding between the people of the two countries through personnel exchanges, organizing seminars, and holding cultural activities. The association has long been committed to promoting exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in various fields, especially in the areas of economy, trade, culture, and education.

Therefore, this association is naturally very important. Naserdin appointed Pezeshkian as its president because he valued Pezeshkian's abilities.

"Your Majesty, I will not fail your expectations!"

Pezeshkian knew the Shah valued him, so naturally he would support him with all his might. Of course, this was also to protect his people. There are 90 Armenians in Iran, widely distributed from Yerevan to Erzurum. This has made the Shia Muslims in Iran feel threatened, so breaking them up and preventing them from forming a cohesive force is paramount.

Many people left their homeland for Mesopotamia, Khorasan, Transoxiana, and even East Africa. This sounds plausible on the surface, but the reality is quite different.

Thirty thousand Armenian families were relocated to the marshes along the Tigris River. The government promised "fertile land," but the reality was armed conflict with Arab tribes over water resources. An old man lamented in a mud-walled church: "Our roots have been uprooted, yet we cannot take root in other people's soil."

On the northeastern border, Armenian merchants were forced to take over the trade route to Bukhara. Tax officials sneered privately, "Let the infidels deal with the bandits; it saves us trouble."

At the most dangerous moment, a secret letter from the Armenian bishop was hidden in a lining of the Bible and delivered to the official residence: "Our church on the eastern shore of Lake Van has been burned down, and three hundred believers are homeless. If Your Excellency remains silent, we will have no choice but to appeal to St. Petersburg for help." Pezeshkian held the letter close to the candlelight, the flickering flame reflecting the lines at the corners of his eyes—old ailments that had developed during the negotiations.

As the highest-ranking Armenian, Pezeshkian was determined to fight for the interests of his compatriots. However, as Foreign Minister, he couldn't really control the people at home, so he had to retreat and resign from the position to fight for their rights elsewhere.

Shortly after, the Iranian government announced personnel changes, with Pezeshkian becoming the head of the Foreign Affairs Council and Abdullah succeeding him as Foreign Minister. Pezeshkian was also promoted to count by the Shah and awarded the Order of the Sun.

This change is significant, as it means that, apart from the Minister of Military Affairs, all other members of the current government are newcomers. Two of the most important finance ministers have been replaced, and Pezeshkian's departure also signifies a shift in government policy.

In the sea breeze of Zanzibar, Armenian shipowner Gvork unfolded a crumpled copy of the *Persian Daily*, the headline featuring a photograph of Pezeshkian. He turned to the sailors and laughed, “Look! A white dove is hidden in the mane of the lion of Tehran.” Mixed-race children in the harbor ran and sang newly composed songs: “From Mount Ararat to Kilimanjaro, our crosses flutter on merchant ships…”

At the expert meeting, an Armenian member of parliament led all Armenians in Tehran in a special celebration of Pezeshkian's inauguration. Seeing his compatriots there, he resolved to fight for their own blue skies.

Pezeshkian soon arrived at the newly built Yerevan church, gazing at the strange fusion of Byzantine vaults and Persian glazes. He murmured to himself, "In Tehran, I am the Shah's sword; here, I will be my compatriots' shield."

The wind swept across the dry Alas Riverbed, carrying the chill of the Caucasus Mountains, and carried this sentence toward an unknowable future.

(End of this chapter)