Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araqchi has been appointed as the new Foreign Ministry spokesman, after Ramin Mehmanparast, who has signed up as a presidential hopeful for the June 14 election, said he is quitting.

According to Press TV, in his letter of resignation, Mehmanparast stated that although there is no law requiring that he resign in order to run for president, he decided to do so in order to assure the public that he would not use state facilities or his position to give himself a boost in the election.

Salehi accepted the resignation and appointed Araqchi as the new spokesman but announced that he would retain his position as deputy foreign minister for Asia-Pacific affairs.

The foreign minister also thanked Mehmanparast for his untiring efforts during his tenure as Foreign Ministry spokesman.

Mehmanparast is one of the 686 individuals who have signed up as presidential candidates.