TEHRAN (Sputnik) — While some believe that Abdollahian replacement fits the framework of the common staff changes, others think that are international agreements are behind his removal.
Serving as deputy foreign minister, Abdollahian was for many years engaged in important Arab issues, including the Syrian and Yemeni conflict.
"Iran's Foreign Ministry has sought and continues to seek a peaceful solution for the countries in the region through giving assurances, and therefore putting a man well-versed in the region's crises stems from the [Foreign] Ministry's desire to promote peaceful solutions at the international events, which are associated with both the Syrian and Yemeni issues. Thus, it is impossible for the decision to carry more than it in fact does," former Iranian Ambassador to Germany Shamseddin Kharqani told Sputnik.
Meanwhile, another expert suggested that decision of Abdollahian's replacement followed the agreement influenced by an external factor.
"I think the decision was made is connection with the external arrangement, which occurred a few days ago," political science professor Bahram Nejad said, referring to the meeting between US State Secretary John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Oslo on June 15.
The statement by the Iranian Foreign Ministry following the talks between Kerry and Zarif said that the discussion did not go beyond the implementation of the nuclear program and the banking crisis, and that the Syrian and the Yemeni conflict and other related topics were not on the table.
"It is possible that the ministry deemed the Syrian issue has undergone some changes and that Tehran needs to keep up with these changes," Nejad said.
On Sunday, Zarif appointed former Foreign Ministry spokesman Hussein Jaber Ansari to occupy the post of Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs. His predecessor Hossein Amir-Abdollahian was given the position of the minister's counselor.
