Iran's President Taps Veteran Diplomat Araqchi As Foreign Minister

Abbas Araqchi, the Western-educated former nuclear talks negotiator, was nominated on August 11 as Iran's foreign minister by reformist President Masud Pezeshkian. The move comes as the newly elected Pezeshkian presented his slate of proposed ministers to Iran’s Islamic Consultative Assembly. The 61-year-old Araqchi was the leading negotiator in nuclear talks between Iran and world powers from 2013-21. He has also served as Iran's envoy to Estonia, Finland, and Japan, according to the ministry website. Araqchi was the Foreign Ministry spokesman during the during the presidency of Hassan Rohani, who was strongly criticized by Iran's hard-liners for attempts at reforms during his eight years in power. Araqchi has been a deputy foreign minister since 2013. To read the original story by RFE/RL’s Radio Farda, click here.