TEHRAN – During a ceremony on Wednesday afternoon, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif named his new deputies on the basis of the ministry’s new structure.

According to Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi, Zarif appointed Moteza Sarmadi as the deputy foreign minister (the second ranking person at the Foreign Ministry); Abbas Araqchi as deputy for political affairs; Qolam-Reza Ansari as deputy for economic affairs; Qolam-Hossein Dehqani as deputy for legal and international affairs; and Hossein Panahi-Azar as deputy for Iranian expatriates and parliamentary affairs.

Qassemi also said he was reinstated as Foreign Ministry spokesman and director of public diplomacy and media center.

Zarif also appointed Mohammad-Kazem Sajjadpour as director of the center for political and international studies; Mohammad Taqi Saberi as his deputy for administrative and financial affairs; Hossein Jaberi Ansari as the special assistant in political Affairs; and Hassan Qashqavi as adviser.

The newly-appointed officials will begin their work in the new posts as of January 21.

MH/PA