Iran Reappoints Eslami Amid Nuclear Deal Tensions

Iran's newly elected President Masoud Pezeshkian has reappointed Mohammad Eslami, a U.S.-educated official who was sanctioned by the United Nations in 2008, as the head of the country's nuclear department and one of several vice presidents. Eslami, who holds degrees in civil engineering from the University of Michigan and the University of Toledo, has extensive experience in Iran's military and nuclear industries. His reappointment comes as Iran faces heavy Western sanctions following the collapse of the 2015 nuclear deal. Pezeshkian has expressed intentions to revive this deal. The U.S., France, Britain, and Germany have accused Iran of exceeding the nuclear activity limits set by the 2015 agreement and failing to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency, while Iran maintains its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.