Iran taps Revolutionary Guard general to head army

Khamenei names Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, a 55-year-old veteran of the 1980-1988 war with Iraq, as the new chief of staff

By AP 28 June 2016, 9:43 pm
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Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei poses for a portrait prior to delivering his message for the Iranian New Year, Sunday, March 20, 2016. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/AP)
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei poses for a portrait prior to delivering his message for the Iranian New Year, Sunday, March 20, 2016. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/AP)

Iran’s supreme leader has chosen a Revolutionary Guard general to serve as chief of staff of the armed forces.

State TV reported Tuesday that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has appointed Gen. Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, a 55-year-old veteran of the 1980-1988 war with Iraq, to the post. He replaces Gen. Hassan Firuzabadi, who held the post for the past 14 years. Bagheri was previously the deputy chief of staff.

Bagheri’s older brother died in the Iran-Iraq war, which claimed the lives of 1 million people on both sides.

The Revolutionary Guard is an elite force separate from the regular army, and is charged with defending the Islamic Republic.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.

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