Iran Focus
As part of a purge of the Islamic Republics diplomats who did not belong to the ultra-Islamist faction, in October Ahmadinejad ordered the recalling of 40 of the countrys ambassadors and envoys, nearly half of the fleet. These included Iranian ambassadors in European countries, who were involved in Tehrans nuclear negotiations with the West.
The daily Etemaad quoted anonymous Majlis (Parliament) deputies as saying that several European countries had refused to accredit the prospective envoys.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry was trying to find replacement candidates, the report said.
It also said that there was a possibility that Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi would be sacked.
Iran Focus reported in November that Asefi was to be fired soon and replaced by former Foreign Ministry spokesman Mostafa Morseli.
See related article: Irans Foreign Ministry spokesman gets the sack