Germany to name new ambassador to Iran

Germany will name a new ambassador to Iran to replace incumbent envoy Brand Erbel in the coming days, media reports said. Michael Freiherr von Ungern-Sternberg will be Germany’s top diplomat in Tehran, the Berlin-based NUMOV monthly magazine said. Ungern-Sternberg, a career diplomat, jointed the German foreign ministry in 1982. He has already had many top posts at the foreign ministry. His most recent post was director-general for the UN and global issues at the German foreign ministry. Ungern-Sternberg was head of the Germany’s UN mission in New York between 2002 and 2007. Before that, the diplomat was the head of the European Union enlargement division at the foreign ministry. Ungern-Sternberg has also served as German ambassador to Morocco and Russia. Iran and Germany have tried to expand their bilateral relations in recent years through reciprocal visits by the two countries’ officials.