President Rouhani rejected Foreign Minister Javad Zarif's 25 February resignation. Citing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's description of Zarif as "honest, brave, courageous and pious", Rouhani wrote that "since I believe you are at the forefront of resisting the intense pressures of the U.S., I consider accepting your resignation against our country's interests, and I reject it". He also noted that "the happiness of the sworn enemies of this people, such as the Zionist regime [i.e Israel], over your resignation is the best evidence of the success of Mohammad Javad Zarif, and the biggest reason for the continuation of your work".