New Iranian FM to make first foreign trip to Turkey

Iran's new acting Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi is to accompany President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to a regional summit in Turkey next week, his first foray abroad since taking up the job, the Mehr news agency reported yesterday. "Mr. Salehi will accompany the president on his visit to Turkey," the Iranian ambassador in Ankara told Mehr. "It will be the first visit abroad by the acting foreign minister." Salehi, who was appointed on Monday after Ahmadinejad fired Manouchehr Mottaki in an apparent falling out over nuclear policy, retains his previous position as chief negotiator in talks on the issue with major Western powers.