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The National
19 hours ago
- Politics
- The National
Who are Iran's new military commanders?
Veterans of the Iran-Iraq war are among those replacing the Iranian commanders killed in Israel's attacks, as experts warn the force could soon start filling its top ranks with a younger generation of hardliners. The latest appointments are Maj Gen Amir Hatami as chief commander of the Iranian army, and Brig Gen Majid Mousavi, who becomes commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' aerospace force, Iranian state news agency Irna reported on Saturday. Mr Hatami served as defence minister from 2013 to 2021. He will replace Maj Gen Seyyed Abdulrahim Mousavi who will now lead the Iranian military as its chief of staff. Maj Gen Mousavi's predecessor, Mohammad Bagheri, was killed in the Israeli air strikes on Friday. The new commander-in-chief of the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is Brig Gen Mohammad Pakpour, who threatened to open 'the gates of hell' in retaliation for Israel's attacks. He joined the IRGC after the 1979 revolution, in which he fought armed groups in the Kurdistan region. 'In retribution for the blood of our fallen commanders, scientists and citizens, the gates of hell will soon be opened upon this child-killing regime,' he said upon assuming the role on Friday. Iranian army spokesman Brig Gen Abolfazl Shekarchi said the four newly appointed commanders 'will advance the path of their predecessors with full power'. Lessons from the Iran-Iraq war The eight-year war between Iran and Iraq shaped the Iranian military system, and its veterans are likely to draw lessons from there. Maj Gen Hatami was part of the volunteer Basij forces during the conflict and was honoured for his pushback against the dissident militant group Mojahedin e-Khalq (MEK). Maj Gen Mousavi is also said to have played a leading role in the 1980s conflict. Brig Gen Pakpour commanded frontline divisions during the Iran-Iraq war, including the elite 8th Najaf Ashraf and 31st Ashura units, where he was wounded in combat, according to Iranian news network Press TV. 'The old generation of Guards is very ideological, but it is also risk-averse because it knows the devastation of war,' said Hamidreza Azizi, a visiting fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. The Iran-Iraq war equipped the Iranian military to replace its top brass at speed. 'This is a system that endured the war with Iraq. They have been prepared for such a scenario,' Mr Azizi told The National. The dwindling number of veterans, however, could pave the way 'step-by-step' for a new generation of military leaders who will take a more gung-ho approach to combat, and be less willing to come to the negotiating table, Mr Azizi fears. 'If the Islamic Republic can survive this war we will see a totally new creation in terms of hardliners,' he said. Dwindling chain of command Six high-ranking commanders are believed to have been killed on Friday, including the head of the IRGC Hossein Salami. The IRGC's aerospace force – which handles Iran's missiles – was the hardest hit, losing its commander, Brig Gen Amir Ali Hajizadeh, alongside 20 other senior officers who had convened for a meeting. The Guards will struggle to replace the aerospace force losses due to the large number of high-ranking officers killed, Mr Azizi said. Two deputy commanders of the Iranian army were also killed in the Israeli attacks, Iranian state media reported on Saturday, without naming them or the time of their deaths. Esmail Qaani, the leader of the Quds Force – a branch of the IRGC that supports Iran's regional proxies – is also reported to have been killed on Friday, but no replacement has been announced yet.
News18
a day ago
- Politics
- News18
Who Is Amir Hatami, The Man Chosen To Lead Iran's Army After Israeli Strikes Killed Top Generals?
Last Updated: With senior commanders killed in Israeli strikes, Ayatollah Khamenei has turned to seasoned Artesh figure Amir Hatami to stabilise Iran's Army and rebuild command Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, on Friday announced a significant reshuffle in the country's military hierarchy, appointing Major General Amir Hatami as the new Chief Commander of Iran's Army. This change comes in the aftermath of Israeli airstrikes that killed key military leaders, including General Mohammad Hossein Bagheri and General Hossein Salami—two of the most powerful men in Iran's security establishment. In the same decree, General Abdolrahim Mousavi was appointed as the Chief of the Armed Forces, replacing Bagheri, while Mohammad Pakpour took over as head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), succeeding Salami. Who Is Amir Hatami? Major General Amir Hatami, 59, previously served as Iran's Defence Minister from 2013 to 2021, under President Hassan Rouhani. He made headlines at the time for being the first defence minister in more than two decades with a background in the Artesh, rather than the IRGC. His tenure marked a rare shift in the balance of power between Iran's conventional military and the Revolutionary Guard. Before his ministerial role, Hatami held several key command positions within the Iranian Army. He is a graduate of the elite Imam Ali Officers' Academy, AJA University of Command and Staff, and Iran's National Defense University—institutions that train the country's top military strategists. Why Hatami's Appointment Matters Khamenei praised Hatami's 'dedication, competence, and experience," calling on him to enhance Iran's combat readiness and strengthen the ideological and spiritual foundations of the military. Rising Tensions With Israel Hatami's promotion comes as Iran grapples with the fallout from Israeli airstrikes on Tehran that killed top commanders of both the regular army and the IRGC. These strikes, described as among the most high-profile attacks on Iranian soil in recent history, have plunged the region deeper into uncertainty. The deaths of Bagheri and Salami, two powerful figures close to Iran's Supreme Leader, appear to have prompted the swift appointments, as Tehran looks to regroup its chain of command during an increasingly volatile moment in West Asia. Who Is Gen Abdolrahim Mousavi? General Abdolrahim Mousavi, who now takes over as the Chief of the Armed Forces, previously served as Commander-in-Chief of Iran's Army. He has been sanctioned by multiple Western countries, including the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, and Australia, for alleged serious human rights violations. According to advocacy group 'United Against Nuclear Iran', the US sanctioned Mousavi in 2023, freezing any assets under its jurisdiction. The EU cited his involvement in crackdowns on anti-government protests as the basis for similar measures. The Bottom Line Hatami's appointment comes at a time when Iran is under pressure to project stability after a dramatic loss of senior commanders. By turning to a seasoned Artesh officer with ministerial experience, Tehran may be signalling a strategic pivot, one that prioritises institutional continuity over ideological assertiveness. Whether this recalibrated leadership can steer Iran through escalating regional hostilities without provoking further escalation remains to be seen. First Published: June 14, 2025, 14:14 IST
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Iran's new military leaders: Khamenei appoints Amir Hatami as army chief after Israel kills top generals
Major General Amir Hatami (File photo) In a bid to fill the military vacuum left by Israel's fatal strikes that killed several top Iranian commanders, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday appointed Major General Amir Hatami as the new Chief Commander of the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The announcement, reported by Iranian state media outlet IRNA, marks a significant leadership change as Tehran seeks to stabilise its military structure after Israel's large-scale offensive. Hatami, who served as Iran's Defence Minister from 2013 to 2021, now steps into a critical role at a time of heightened regional tensions. In his official decree, Khamenei commended Hatami's "dedication, competence, and experience," urging him to lead with a "transformative and revolutionary approach," according to IRNA. Khamenei also expressed gratitude to Major General Seyyed Abdolrahim Mousavi for his "sincere and valuable efforts" during his tenure. The reshuffle follows the killing of Iran's former Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces (CSAF) General Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, who, according to Iranian authorities, was assassinated "at the hands of the evil Zionist regime." Khamenei later appointed Mousavi as Bagheri's successor. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo 'In view of the martyrdom of Lieutenant General Mohammad Hossein Bagheri at the hands of the evil Zionist regime, & in light of Major General Sayyid Abdolrahim Mousavi's meritorious services & valuable experience, I appoint him as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces,' Khamenei posted on X. Khamenei also made sweeping changes across other key military branches, replacing top officials killed in Israel's Operation Rising Lion airstrikes. Major General Mohammad Pakpour has been named the new Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) after the death of Lieutenant General Hossein Salami in the Israeli strikes. 'In view of the martyrdom of Lieutenant General Hossein Salami at the hands of the vile Zionist regime, and in light of Major General Mohammad Pakpour's meritorious services and valuable experience, I appoint him as Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,' Khamenei announced. Further, Major General Ali Shadmani was appointed Commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya (pbuh) Central Headquarters, following the assassination of Lieutenant General Gholamali Rashid. Khamenei posted, 'In view of Lt. Gen. Gholamali Rashid's martyrdom at the hands of the vile Zionist regime, and in light of Major General Ali Shadmani's meritorious services & valuable experience, I confer the rank of Major Gen. & appoint him Commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya (pbuh) Central HQ. ' According to a CNN report, Israel's Operation Rising Lion dealt a devastating blow to Iran's top military leadership, killing high-ranking officers, including the heads of the IRGC, the air force, and a former national security chief. Among the key figures killed was Major General Hossein Salami, the powerful commander of the IRGC who had led the elite force since 2019. Salami played a pivotal role in Iran's military offensives, including direct missile and drone attacks on Israel in April and October 2024. CNN further reported that Major General Mohammad Bagheri, the former Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, was another significant casualty. Bagheri was instrumental in military coordination, foreign policy engagements in Syria, and diplomatic talks with Saudi Arabia. Ali Shamkhani, a long-time aide to Khamenei and former national security chief, also died in the Israeli strike. Shamkhani had recently been involved in Iran's diplomatic overtures, including China-brokered talks with Saudi Arabia. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the commander of the IRGC's air force and the strategist behind Iran's 2020 missile attacks on Israel and US military bases in Iraq, was also killed. According to CNN, he and his senior staff were targeted in a strike on an underground command centre. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) later confirmed the strikes, framing them as a necessary step to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. "Iran is closer than ever to obtaining a nuclear weapon. Weapons of mass destruction in the hands of the Iranian regime are an existential threat to the State of Israel and the wider world. The State of Israel has no choice but to fulfil the obligation to act in defence of its citizens and will continue to do so everywhere it is required to do so," the IDF posted on X. In response, Iran launched a wave of drone and missile strikes on Tel Aviv. Israeli counterstrikes have continued since then, keeping the region on edge.
