Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadi Nejad denied Wednesday morning reports regarding the resignation of his foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki.
"This kind of information is part of a psychological war against the government. Mr. Mottaki will stay firmly in his place and is continuing his activities with pleasure," Ahmadi Nejad said after a cabinet meeting, according to the Iranian Mehr news agency.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Hujjat Al-Islam Muhammad ‘Ali Shahidi also denied the reports.
The report "from last night regarding the resignation of Manouchehr Mottaki were not true. He will stay in his position," Shahidi said during an open session of the parliament.
Last night Mehr news agency quoted two MPs from the foreign policy and security commission – Reza Talai-Nik and Kazim Jalali – as saying that Mottaki is said to have already tendered his resignation. The two also said additional changes were expected in the government.
Last week head of the Iranian Security Council and head of the nuclear negotiating team, ‘Ali Larijani, resigned from his position and was appointed an adviser to the country’s Spiritual Leader ‘Ali Khamani.
Mottaki is considered one of Larijani’s closest allies. He headed Larijani’s presidential campaign in the last elections.
Larijani resigned following differences of opinion with President Mahmoud Ahmadi Nejad over the country’s nuclear policy.
Larijani is currently in Rome as Khamani’s representative in the nuclear negotiating team, where he is conducting talks with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi. Heading the negotiating team is Ahmadi Nejad’s close associate, Sa’id Jalili.
Jalili said on Tuesday he appreciated Larijani’s efforts so far and that he would follow the same course taken by Larijani over the past two years.