Araqchi Named Secretary of Top-Level Think Tank

Former deputy foreign minister Abbas Araqchi was appointed as secretary of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations by head of the think tank, Kamal Kharrazi. 
In his decree, Kharrazi called on the new secretary to help reform the structure of the secretariat and improve its role in explaining the Islamic Republic’s policies and illuminating the global public opinion to uphold the country’s interests, according to IRNA.
Araqchi, who is currently an advisor to the foreign minister, has served in various positions including ambassador to Finland and Japan, and deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs as well as political affairs. 
He was also Iran’s top negotiator in talks to revive the 2015 nuclear deal under the administration of former president Hassan Rouhani. 
The Strategic Council on Foreign Relations was founded in 2006 by order of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. 
Its task is to work out strategies and solutions which can help the country’s foreign policy produce desirable results. It also aims to coordinate all activities related to foreign policy.