Change of nuclear negotiator

Iran's top nuclear negotiator resigns
Sat, 20 Oct 2007 11:41:47

Iran's SNSC Secretary Ali Larijani

Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council and chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani has announced resignation from his post.

Larijani had repeatedly resigned from his post which was finally accepted by Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, government spokesman, Gholam-Hossein Elham, told reporters at his weekly press conference.

Elham added that appointing a successor to Larijani was under consideration.

Larijani had reportedly submitted his written resignation two weeks ago.

Certain sources said that Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Larijani had differences of opinion regarding the country's peaceful nuclear case.

Saeed Jalili, Deputy Foreign Minister for European and Ameriacna Affairs, has reportedly been appointed new secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.

The former SNSC secretary will take part at the council's sessions as representative of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

SF/GM

Iran appoints new nuclear negotiator
Sat, 20 Oct 2007 22:24:49

Iran's new top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili

Iran's Deputy FM Saeed Jalili has been appointed as the country's new chief nuclear negotiator after Ali Larijani's resignation.

Jalili previously served as Deputy Foreign Minister in European and American affairs.

The 42-year-old is one of the new faces in the foreign ministry who was named by FM Manouchehr Mottaki in September 2005 as Deputy Minister.

Jalili was born in 1965 in the Iranian holy city of Mashhad. He started his diplomatic career in 1989 and has worked in the office of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

Former Secretary of the National Security Council Ali Larijani will take part at the council's sessions as the representative of the Leader.

CS/RE

No change in Iran's N-policy
Sat, 20 Oct 2007 22:04:55

Mojtaba Samareh Hashemi

A senior presidential advisor says that new appointments in Iran's nuclear team will have no effect on Tehran's overall nuclear policy.

Mojtaba Samareh Hashemi, the top presidential advisor, indicated that Iran's nuclear policy is determined by the leader of the Islamic revolution and the president.

Earlier Government Spokesman, Gholam-Hossein Elham had confirmed Saeed Jalili, Deputy Foreign Minister for European and Americana Affairs, has been named new Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and the country's top nuclear negotiator.

Ali Larijani, who served as Iran's nuclear negotiator, will take part at the Supreme National Security Council's sessions as the representative of Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

MT/RE