Parliamentary Panel OKs Araqchi’s Nomination for Iran Foreign Minister


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission advanced the nomination of Abbas Araqchi to become the next minister of foreign affairs.

After discussing the credentials of Araqchi during two intensive sessions on August 12 and 14, the parliamentary commission gave its official approval to his nomination for foreign minister.

The spokesman for the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission read a statement to a plenary meeting of the Parliament on Sunday morning, saying the commission has unanimously come to the conclusion that Araqchi is competent enough to run the Foreign Ministry.

Araqchi is one of the 19 ministerial picks proposed by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

The Parliament will hold a formal session on the votes of confidence on Wednesday, August 21.

Araqchi, 61, was a deputy foreign minister in the administration of former President Hassan Rouhani.

He played a leading role in the negotiations that led to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015.

Araqchi was an IRGC serviceman during the Iraqi imposed war against Iran in the 1980s before joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.