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Iran's Rouhani shifts responsibility for nuclear talks | Iran's Rouhani shifts responsibility for nuclear talks |
(35 minutes later) | |
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says the foreign ministry will take charge of nuclear negotiations with the West. | Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says the foreign ministry will take charge of nuclear negotiations with the West. |
The move will give him more direct control over the talks, which have until now been conducted by the Supreme National Security Council. | The move will give him more direct control over the talks, which have until now been conducted by the Supreme National Security Council. |
The council is appointed by and answerable to the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. | The council is appointed by and answerable to the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. |
Correspondents say the change could herald a less hardline Iranian stance in the talks. | Correspondents say the change could herald a less hardline Iranian stance in the talks. |
The change had been rumoured for several weeks. | The change had been rumoured for several weeks. |
Western countries fear Iran wants to develop nuclear weapons - a claim it denies. | Western countries fear Iran wants to develop nuclear weapons - a claim it denies. |
Since 2007, Iran's delegation at nuclear negotiations has been led by Saeed Jalili, who was seen as highly loyal to Mr Khamenei. | |
Mr Jalili also stood as a presidential candidate at this year's election, on a platform perceived as espousing an aggressive policy abroad and limited political openness at home. | |
The move makes it likely that Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will take over responsibility for talks. | |
Mr Zarif has experience living in and negotiating with the West, having previously been Iran's envoy to the UN, and is viewed as a political moderate. |