Iran's Envoy To IAEA Leaving Post For Non-Diplomatic Assignment

Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s envoy to international organizations in Vienna, including the International Atomic Energy Agency, will leave his post on October 15.

Fars news agency close to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard reported late Thursday that Gharibabadi has been appointed as the head of Islamic Republic Judiciary’s international affairs department.

The post was held by hardliner functionary Ali Bagheri-Kani until he was appointed as deputy foreign minister by Iran’s new foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

Gharibabadi, who has held the post for the past three years is the son-in-law of former Revolutionary Guard general Mohammad-Bagher Zolghadr, who is currently the secretary of the Islamic Republic’s Expediency Discernment Council, a constitutional body.

Fars reports that Gharibabdi’s name had been mentioned as a possible foreign minister or head of the foreign ministry’s international legal department when President Ebrahim Raisi (Raeesi) was selecting his cabinet in July and August.

He was appointed by former foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

He had previously served as ambassador to Holland.