Iran’s President Nominates New Foreign and Oil Ministers, Parliament To Review

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has nominated Abbas Araqchi as the country’s new foreign minister, with the announcement made on Sunday by Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf. The nomination was broadcast live on the Student News Network.

Abbas Araqchi, a seasoned diplomat known for his pragmatic approach, previously served as the chief negotiator in nuclear talks between Tehran and world powers from 2013 to 2021. His extensive diplomatic career includes roles as Iran’s ambassador to Turkey and Japan, as well as a tenure as deputy foreign minister for Asia-Pacific. Araqchi was also a close ally of former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, serving as the second most influential official in the foreign ministry, holding various key positions, including deputy for legal and international affairs and deputy for political affairs. Araqchi holds a PhD in Political Thought from the University of Kent.

The nomination comes as part of a broader cabinet reshuffle, with Pezeshkian also nominating Mohsen Paknezhad as Iran’s oil minister. Paknezhad, who has a strong background in the oil industry, previously served as Deputy Minister of Oil for the supervision of hydrocarbon resources from 2018 to 2021. He has also held various senior positions within the National Iranian Oil Company, including roles in integrated planning and as a member of the board of directors of the Iranian Central Oil Fields Company.