Iranian
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has fired Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and
temporarily replaced him with atomic chief Ali Akbar Salehi, the official IRNA
news agency reported Monday.
It gave no reasons for the surprise move, which comes as Iran is engaged in talks with world
powers over its sensitive nuclear program.
"I thank you and appreciate the work and the services you have rendered
during your tenure in the foreign ministry," Ahmadinejad was quoted as
saying in a directive carried by IRNA. "I hope your efforts receive a
praise by God and you will be successful in the rest of your life at the
service of people of our Islamic nation."
Mottaki, a career diplomat, was appointed to the post of foreign minister in
August 2005. He is in Senegal
on an official visit.
A fluent speaker of English who is also comfortable in Urdu and Turkish,
Mottaki earned a degree in social sciences from the University
of Bangalore in India and a graduate degree in international
relations from TehranUniversity in 1991.
IRNA also said that Ahmadinejad in a separate directive appointed Iran's Salehi as the "caretaker of
the foreign ministry."
"Due to your commitment, knowledge and valued expertise...you are
appointed as caretaker of the foreign ministry," the directive read.
Salehi is one of Iran's vice-presidents and head of its
atomic energy organization.
According to the law, the president has to submit his nominations for
ministerial posts to parliament for approval.
The sacking of Mottaki comes days after Iran held crunch talks with world powers
over its controversial nuclear dossier. Further talks are scheduled for next
month.
Mottaki, has been a staunch defender of Iran's sensitive nuclear program, which
Western powers suspect is masking a covert atomic weapons drive. Iran maintains that it is seeking
nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
Salehi, who was appointed atomic energy chief in on July 17, 2009, has been a
driving force behind Iran's atomic program and during his
tenure, Iran's first nuclear power plant has
come on line.