Iran’s Khamenei appoints new navy commander

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei yesterday appointed a new commander of the Islamic Republic’s navy.

Khamenei’s Twitter account published a statement saying in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Armed Forces, the  supreme leader has appointed Rear Admiral Shahram Irani as the new navy chief. He will take over from Admiral Hossein Khanzadi who has held the post since 2017.

In his decree, Khamenei urged Irani to improve the navy but gave no reason for the replacement.

Irani graduated from the Khomeini University of Naval Sciences.

He has held a series of key positions including as chief of operations for the Iranian Army’s First Naval District (Bandar Abbas), chief of staff and deputy commander of the region, deputy chief of naval training and deputy chief of military training in the navy.

He has also commanded some of the army’s most important fleet missions, including the crossing of the Suez Canal in 1991 in addition to several sea rescue operations.

Khamenei’s decision comes amid escalating tensions in the Arabian Sea, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf.

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