Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki was dismissed by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday, the presidential web site reported.

Photo taken on Sept. 15, 2010 shows Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki speaks during a joint press conference with his Armenian counterpart Eduard Nalbandianl (unseen) in Tehran, Iran. Manouchehr Mottaki was dismissed by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday, the presidential web site reported. [Ahmad Halabisaz/Xinhua]

Mottaki was temporarily replaced by head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali-Akbar Salehi, who is also Iran's vice president.

In a decree issued by Ahmadinejad on Monday and posted on the presidential web site, Salehi was told, "due to your commitment, knowledge, and worthwhile experiences ... you are appointed in charge of foreign ministry."

"Hereby I appreciate your services and efforts during your tenure in the Foreign Ministry," the Iranian president also addressed Mottaki.

Salehi needs to receive the vote of confidence in case he is introduced by Iran's president to the parliament as a nominated foreign minister.

Mottaki's dismissal is announced while he is on an African mission in Senegal, said the semi-official Fars news agency on Monday.

Manouchehr Mottaki had been Iran's foreign minister since 2005 when Ahmadinejad took office.