He was a moderate, in favour of dialogue. His distancing signals a victory for the hard-line Ahmadinejiad.

Teheran (AsiaNews) – Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Larijani has resigned his post. The announcement was made by Government spokesman Gholam-Hossein Elham this morning at his weekly press briefing, who said that Larijani had long requested President Ahmadinejiad to be substituted.

Ali Larijani, appointed SNSC secretary in 2005, has been the principal negotiator with the UN and the West in recent times regarding the Iranian nuclear question.  Teheran claims its right to develop nuclear technologies for “peaceful purposes”; but the international community fears that Iran is developing weapons.

Larijani, a conservative traditionalist, has often shown himself to be more moderate than Ahmadinejad, open to dialogue with the west on the nuclear issue.  The Iranian president has instead always sought controversy and confrontation.

According to diplomatic sourced, Larijani’s resignation is a victory sign for Amadinejiad’s hard-line which is now also supported by supreme chief Ali Khamenei.

On Tuesday October 23rs Larijani was to have met with EU Foreign Minister Javier Solana in Tehran.  An Iranian government spokesman said that Solana will instead meet with vice foreign minister Said Jalili, known to be a strong ally of Ahmadinejiad.

• IRAN
• LARIJANI
• NUCLEAR
• ARMS
• AHMADINEJAD
• JAVIER
• SOLANA
• NEOGTOTIATOR
• MODERATE
• RESIGNATION