Tillerson Responds to Resignation Rumors: 'I'm Not Going Anywhere'

Rex Tillerson, the U.S. Secretary of State, denied reports of his resignation on Wednesday. According to Reuters, after a meeting with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, the Qatari Foreign Minister, at the U.S. State Department, Tillerson responded to a question about stepping down by stating, 'I'm not going anywhere.' When asked how long he would remain in his position, he said, 'As long as the President allows me.' He also described his relationship with President Donald Trump as 'good.' Earlier on Tuesday, CNN reported, citing its sources, that Tillerson might resign by the end of the year. Meanwhile, the State Department spokesperson denied this report on Tuesday. Heather Nauert, the State Department spokesperson, called the report 'false,' stating she had spoken with Tillerson, who is determined to continue his work at the State Department. However, Foreign Policy reported on July 30, citing three unnamed sources 'close to the White House,' that Trump was dissatisfied with his Secretary of State regarding the JCPOA (Iran nuclear deal). Reports also indicated that Tillerson met with Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday and had a separate meeting with Paul Ryan, the Republican Speaker of the House. In this context, Foreign Policy noted that Trump, due to dissatisfaction with the State Department, has assigned another group to handle the JCPOA.