Sheikholeslam, who passed away on Thursday after days of infection, was a member of the 7th Parliament of Iran.
Sheikholeslam was Assistant to the parliament Speaker Ali Larijani for International Affairs.
Sheikholeslam was one of the students who stormed the US embassy in 1980.
Zarif says Sheikholeslam was the person who changed his life. In his autobiography, Zarif writes he was studying computer engineering, but Sheikholeslam told him after 1979 Revolution that everyone can become a computer specialist, but not anyone can become a good politician for the Islamic Republic. He says his changed his field of study upon his advice.
