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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
Mint
a day ago
- Politics
- Mint
Iranian Major General Amir Hatami appointed new Army chief amid attacks from Israel: Who is he?
Commander-in-Chief Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei ordered the appointment of Major General Amir Hatami as Chief Commander of the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran as part of major reshuffle at Iran's military top leadership, Tehran Times reported. This comes following the assassination of General Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, the head of the country's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), by Israel's series of airstrikes in Iran's capital. According to an official decree on Friday, the decision was announced where Khamenei stated Hatami's 'dedication, competence, and experience' as the basis for the appointment. 'With the Army's vast pool of capable and faithful personnel, and the experience gained during the Sacred Defense and beyond, it is expected that under your command, efforts to enhance combat readiness, strengthen spiritual and ideological foundations, improve personnel welfare, and boost cooperation with other branches of the Armed Forces will accelerate,' the decree read. Hatami, 59, succeeded Hossein Dehghan and preceded Mohammad Reza Gharaei Ashtiani. He was Iran's Defense Minister from 2013 to 2021 and has now taken command of the country's regular military forces amid escalating regional tensions. He is the first defense minister with an Artesh background in over two decades, breaking a pattern in place since 1989, when the position had been exclusively held by officers from the Revolutionary Guards. Hatami studied at Imam Ali Officers' Academy, AJA University of Command and Staff, National Defense University. Iran and Israel exchanged missile and airstrikes early Saturday, after Israel carried out its largest air assault to date against its longtime adversary in an effort to halt its nuclear weapons development. In Iran, numerous explosions were heard in the capital Tehran, the semi-official Tasnim news agency report said. Iranian missiles broke through Israel's air defenses on Friday, marking a significant test for the country's defensive systems. Since the war began on October 7, 2023, Israel has faced a barrage of threats, including short-range rockets, medium-range missiles, attack drones, and ballistic missiles launched from Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Iran. The long-range ballistic missiles fired Friday night posed one of the toughest challenges yet. Iranian missiles injured 34 people in Israel, whereas Israel's strikes in Iran led to 78 deaths, leaving 329 others injured.
