Iran IAEA envoy’s term extended

Iran’s permanent envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency Ali Asghar Soltanieh says his term has been extended by the Foreign Ministry.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki extended Soltanieh’s term for another four years, Tehran’s IAEA envoy was quoted by Mehr News Agency as saying on Tuesday.

Earlier in the week, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi said Soltanieh would be replaced with Reza Najafi.

However, Salehi stressed that it might take “some time” before Najafi is appointed as Iran’s new IAEA envoy.

Salehi described Najafi as an “expert in non-proliferation issues” who “deserves the post.”