Ahmadinejad appoints new atomic chief

TEHRAN - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Sunday appointed Fereydoon Abbasi-Davani as head of the country’s atomic energy organization, ISNA news agency reported.

The appointment was due as the former atomic chief, Ali-Akbar Salehi, has been appointed the country’s new foreign minister.

Abbasi, a 52-year-old nuclear scientist and university lecturer, survived an assassination attempt in November and has since been regarded as a national hero.

Abbasi will be in charge of the technical aspects of Iran’s nuclear programmes and will not get involved in nuclear talks with world powers.

The political discussions on the nuclear dispute will be continued by Salehi as the main architect and Saeid Jalili as the chief nuclear negotiator.