DUBAI: Iranian President Hassan Rowhani appointed outgoing Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi to head the Atomic Energy Organisation yesterday, state media said, replacing a hardliner with a pragmatist to take charge of Tehran’s nuclear programme.
The head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI) is not directly involved in nuclear negotiations with world powers, but is in charge of operating Iran’s nuclear facilities.
He also represents Tehran at the annual member state gatherings of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Salehi, Iran’s foreign minister from 2011 until Thursday when parliament approved his replacement, returns to his previous job as head of the AEOI.
He takes the place of Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani who survived an assassination attempt in 2010.
“It was another wise appointment. Salehi was the best of Ahmadinejad’s ministers, a pragmatist who understands how the world works. It made sense to keep him on in some capacity,” said Mark Fitzpatrick, director of the non-proliferation and disarmament programme of the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
REUTERS
