Thank you and goodbye

摘要

Rather as in its nuclear programme, big political changes in the Islamic Republic of Iran tend to take place underground. Sometimes they also involve centrifugal forces, as the foreign minister, Manou-chehr Mottaki, has discovered. Mr Mottaki was in the middle of an official visit to Senegal on December 13th when a curt letter from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad informed him of his dismissal, wishing him "divine reward" for his five years of service.