Iranian foreign ministry spokesman steps down
Move by Ramin Mehmanparas likely means he intends to pursue presidency
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast, May 2013 (screen capture: Youtube/EnglishNewsToday)
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman has stepped down in a likely indication that he has joined the race for the presidency.
A report by the semi-official Mehr news agency says Ramin Mehmanparast resigned from the post. It gave no reason, but the report late Saturday came just hours after the deadline to register for the June 14 election to succeed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Mehr says Mehmanparast will be replaced by Abbas Araghchi, a member of Iran’s nuclear negotiators team. Araghchi also continues his current job as deputy foreign minister in charge of Asia and Oceania.
The 50-year-old, British-educated Araghchi served as Iran’s ambassador to Japan from 2008-11.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
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