Ali Larijani, head of the Supreme National Security Council, and Iran’s chief negotiator with international bodies over Iran’s controversial nuclear program, is reported to have abruptly resigned his post, the TIME magazine wrote in its article on 20 October.

The article added: Little information has surfaced thus far about Larijani’s reasons, but it can be assumed that the abrupt resignation by such a key figure suggests a serious crisis within the Iranian regime concerning how to handle the international dispute over Iran’s nuclear program. The Bush administration has warned Iran that it faces possible military action if it does not voluntarily abandon its uranium enrichment program.