Iran names new nuclear agency chief

Iran names new nuclear agency chief

By the CNN Wire Staff
February 13, 2011 2:12 p.m. EST

Please click here to access the complete version of this article.

(CNN) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Sunday appointed Fereydoun Abbasi -- who survived an assassination attempt late last year -- as the new head of the country's Atomic Energy Organization, the state-run Press TV reported.

Abbasi, a professor at Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran, replaces Ali Akbar Salehi, who was appointed as foreign minister last month, Press TV reported. Ahmadinejad cited Abbasi's "commitment and past scientific and executive record," in his announcement.

In November of last year, Abbasi and fellow professor, Majid Shahriari, were attacked in separate car bombings. Shahriari was killed, but Abbasi and his wife sustained injures and were hospitalized, Press TV reported.

Abbasi will oversee a nuclear program that has drawn criticism from many other countries.

Please click here to access the complete version of this article.

ENDS

© Scoop Media