In its Monday statement, the IRGC expressed its pleasure with the huge number of votes of confidence General Hatami received from Iranian lawmakers on Sunday to become the new defence minister, and sincerely congratulated him on taking the office.
“There is no doubt that your presence […] promises the reinforcement of the Defence Ministry’s approaches and plans to further develop and upgrade the Islamic Republic’s defence industry,” the statement added.
It further hailed General Hatami’s appointment and said he will support the Islamic Republic’s Armed Forces in strengthening the country’s deterrence and defensive power with a focus on ‘missile capabilities’ and support for ‘the Islamic resistance front’ in countering ‘proxy wars’ and ‘Takfiri terrorism’ in the region.
“The Iranian nation will witness its manifestation in the Army and IRGC missions,” the statement added.
The IRGC also voiced its preparedness to provide the Defence Ministry with any kind of help, and wished success for Hatami and his hardworking colleagues in Iran’s defence industry.
General Hatami is the first Army general serving as Iran’s defence minister after the end of Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s. After receiving the greatest vote of confidence (over 260 votes) from the Parliament on Sunday, he went to his office at the Defence Ministry to replace Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan.
Later on Sunday, General Dehqan was appointed by Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei as a defence industries advisor to the Chief Commander of the Iranian Armed Forces.
