A Foreign Ministry spokesman says the firing of Iran's foreign minister will not effect the country's policies, including nuclear talks.

The Tuesday remarks come a day after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad abruptly sacked Manouchehr Mottaki and named nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi as caretaker minister.

Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast says "we will not see any change in Iran's basic policies," including in the nuclear talks. He says the ministry is only implementing policies decided by the higher leadership.

The US and its allies suspect Iran intends to build a nuclear bomb, a claim Tehran denies. Iran and top world powers held a round of inconclusive talks on the standoff last week, and are to meet again next year.