TEHRAN - In a decree issued on Monday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad dismissed Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki from his post and appointed Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Director Ali Akbar Salehi as the acting foreign minister.

Salehi, who is also currently one of the country’s vice presidents, formerly served as Iran’s permanent ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Ahmadinejad gave no explanation for the decision.
Following is the text of the decree:
“Given your commitment, knowledge, and precious experiences, and according to Article 135 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, by this decree you shall be appointed as the foreign minister.
It is hoped that, with the grace of God, you will be able to carry out your responsibilities.”
In addition, in a letter to Mottaki, Ahmadinejad expressed appreciation for his efforts and services during his term in office.
Mottaki served as the foreign minister from 2005 to 2010.
He also served as a member of parliament in the first Majlis, as the director of the seventh political bureau of the Foreign Ministry (1984), Iran’s ambassador to Turkey (1985), the Foreign Ministry’s secretary general for Western European affairs (1989), deputy foreign minister for international affairs (1989), and deputy foreign minister for legal, consular and parliamentary affairs (1992). He has also been Iran’s ambassador to Japan (1994), an advisor to the foreign minister (1999), the deputy director of the Islamic Culture and Communications Organization (2001), and the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of the seventh Majlis.