Gholamali Khoshroo, former Iranian deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs and assistant of Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, speaks at the World Public Forum "Dialogue of Civilizations" March 6, 2014. (photo by World Public Forum)[/caption]After nearly a year of controversy with USofficials over its previous pick, Iran has appointed a new UNenvoy. Gholamali Khoshroo, a seasoned diplomat who works to promote former Iranian PresidentMohammad Khatamis Dialogue of Civilizations, has beenappointed as Irans permanent representative at the United Nations, said Irans Foreign Ministry in a statement.
The previous pick by by Iran,Hamid Abutalebi, caused an uproar when the United States refused togrant him a visa over Abutalebisrole in the1979 hostage crisisat the US Embassy in Tehran, where 52 Americans were held for 444 days. Abutalebi was instead appointed as President Hassan Rouhanis political affairs adviser, and hehas since been active on Twitter promotingengagement between Iran and the United States in Iraq.
In a statement, Irans Foreign Ministry said that its protest over Abutalebis case remains in place;however, The Islamic Republic believes that in order to secure its national interests and promote Irans place on the international scene, it must use the opportunity to secure Irans interests at a maximum level and it is necessary to have an active and effective presence at the United Nations, especially in consideration of the critical regional and international situation.
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