Mottaki’s Statement on His Dismissal

Iran’s former foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki has publicly rebutted President Ahmadinejad’s claim that the foreign minister was aware of his pending dismissal while on a foreign mission. In a statement published online, Mottaki calls Ahmadinejad’s move to dismiss him while on a foreign mission “un-Islamic, contrary to all political and diplomatic norms, and insulting.”

“The president knew that the foreign minister’s mission to two African countries began on Sunday 12 December and was to end on Wednesday 15 December when he was scheduled to return to Tehran. I heard the news of my dismissal on Monday 13 December from the Senegalese officials during an official visit with them. Once again I deny [Ahmadinejad’s] assertion that I was aware of my dismissal, of the timing of my dismissal, and most ridiculous of all of the date of my ‘farewell’ ceremony,” Mottaki said in his statement. “They should stop such despicable behavior which is not worthy of our Islamic regime and its great leaders, and not in tune with Iranian manners, norms and culture.”