Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has appointed Abbas Araqchi as the country’s new foreign minister. This was announced by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf on Sunday. The appointment was broadcast live on the Student News Network.
A veteran diplomat known for his pragmatic approach, Abbas Araqchi served as chief negotiator in nuclear talks between Tehran and world powers from 2013 to 2021. His extensive diplomatic career includes roles as Iran’s ambassador to Turkey and Japan, and a stint as deputy foreign minister for the Asia-Pacific region. Araqchi was also a close ally of former foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and served as the second-most senior official in the State Department, where he held several key positions, including deputy for legal and international affairs and deputy for political affairs. Araqchi holds a doctorate in political thought from the University of Kent.
The nomination comes as part of a broader Cabinet reshuffle in which Pezeshkian also nominated Mohsen Paknezhad to be Iran’s oil minister. Paknezhad, who has extensive experience in the oil industry, previously served as deputy oil minister in charge of overseeing hydrocarbon resources from 2018 to 2021. He also held various senior positions at the National Iranian Oil Company, including roles in integrated planning and as a member of the board of directors of the Iranian Central Oil Fields Company.
