Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian appointed Ali Bagheri Kani as the Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, replacing Abbas Araghchi in the position. He appointed Araghchi as his political advisor.
Araghchi used to be Iran’s top nuclear negotiator and the move means that one of Iran’s most experienced envoys -- involved in six rounds of talks this year -- may no longer be officially involved in efforts to restore the 2015 nuclear deal.
Bagheri Kani was a senior nuclear negotiator a decade ago during the presidency of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, when talks to end a standoff with the West over Iran’s nuclear program weren’t successful. He is also close to the judiciary that Raisi used to lead before being elected president.