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Biography of New Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki

Posted on: Wednesday, 7 September 2005, 09:00 CDT

Manuchehr Mottaki has held various key positions at the country's Foreign Ministry, ranging from deputy foreign minister to ambassadorships to Turkey and Japan. He was also the head of the new secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani's election headquarters during the latter's presidential campaign. Mottaki, who is also a member of the newly-founded Islamic Iran Developers' Coalition, has criticized Iranian negotiators for being too soft in the country's nuclear talks with the EU.

Career: Mottaki served as an MP in the first post-Islamic revolution Majlis in 1980. He has also held various positions at the Foreign Ministry which include: Iran's ambassador to Turkey (1985- 1989); Foreign Ministry director-general for West Europe, deputy foreign minister for international affairs and deputy foreign minister for legal, consular and parliamentary affairs (1989-1994); Iranian ambassador to Japan (1994-1999); advisor to the foreign minister (1999-2001); deputy head of the Islamic Culture and Communication Organization for communications (2001) and head of the seventh Majlis' National Security and Foreign Policy Committee and head of the seventh Majlis' NPT Working Group(March 2004-August 2005).

Background: Mottaki was born in 1953 in Bandar Gaz in Golestan Province, northern Iran. He was awarded a bachelors degree in social sciences by India's Bangalore University in 1976 and a masters degree in international relations by Tehran University in 1991. He speaks English well and knows Urdu and Turkish.

Mottaki on:

Iran's foreign policy: "In our foreign policy, we must pay attention to kindness and justice. This itself can prepare the stage for attracting Iranian expatriates and foreign investment... Our foreign policy must be dynamic and have a mechanism which befits international relations. We pursue rational and transparent policies and call for structural changes in this domain." (ISNA, 25 August)

Iraq: "The Iraqi police should be strengthened to overcome the elements involved in weakening Iraqi security and the Iraqi people should be helped to administer their national affairs. The prolonged presence of foreign troops in Iraq will not help stability of the country." (IRNA, 28 August)

Nuclear talks: "Iran does not intend to halt the process of nuclear negotiations with the EU. It believes that if the Europeans make a positive proposal they could open a new chapter in Iran-EU ties." (Mehr News Agency, 19 July)

"We stress that after the resumption of activity at Esfahan nuclear installation, we should hold unconditional negotiations. Iran's transparent, reasonable and legal attitude will persuade the European side to join the talks." (ISNA, 17 August)

His future plans: Mottaki says that he will render services to Iranian expatriates and will support Iranians living abroad and form a council for decision-making about foreign relations. He also plans to improve the economic, diplomatic and cultural sectors in order to develop Iran's relations with other states on the basis of mutual interest. (IRNA, 27 August)

Source: BBC Monitoring Middle East

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