UN-sanctioned official now Iran nuclear agency chief

Tehran, August 10

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Iran’s newly elected president Masoud Pezeshkian reappointed US-educated official Mohammad Eslami (67), who had come under the United Nations’ sanctions 16 years ago, as the head of the country’s nuclear department, state television reported on Saturday.

Eslami will continue working as the chief of Iran’s civilian nuclear programme and serving as one of the several vice-presidents. Eslami’s reappointment by President Pezeshkian comes as Iran remains under heavy sanctions by the West following the collapse of the 2015 deal that curbed Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.

During his presidential campaign, Pezeshkian had said he would try to revive the nuclear deal. Eslami was appointed as the chief of Iran’s nuclear department for the first time by late President Ebrahim Raisi in 2021. — AP