Iranian MPs: Appointment of New IRGC Commander Clear Message to US

Iranian legislators in a statement on Tuesday underlined firm support for new Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Hossein Salami, describing his appointment as a message to Washington.

“This appointment is a clear message to the US and the world arrogance as well as the Muslim world and indicates that the luminous way of Imam (Khomeini) in relentless fight against the arrogant powers and unsparing support for Islamic resistance continues,” the statement said.

It also added that the appointment will reinvigorate IRGC’s power and enhance its popularity among the public opinion as well as its services to Islam and the dear Iranian people.

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei promoted IRGC Lieutenant Commander Brigadier General Salami to the rank of Major General and appointed him as the top commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps after Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari’s two five-year terms ended.

In a decree issued on Sunday, Ayatollah Khamenei, who is also Commander-in-Chief of Iran’s Armed Forces, praised Maj. Gen. Jafari’s decade-long service in the post, and said, “Considering Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari’s statement on the necessity of change in IRGC’s (top) command,… and given your valuable experience and competence in fulfilling high-level management and various responsibilities in the revolutionary, Jihadi and popular institution of the IRGC, I promote you to the rank of Major General and appoint you as the top commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps.”

The Leader asked the new top commander to continue the path of Maj. Gen. Jafari and enhance the IRGC’s all-out capabilities and preparedness in all sectors, develop spirituality and expertise and boost cultural promotion.

In October and a few days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initiated another round of Iranophobia efforts, Gen. Salami warned him to “practice swimming”, saying he’ll soon have no other choice but to flee the region.

“Netanyahu should know that there is no way for him except fleeing the region and so he needs to learn how to swim in the Mediterranean Sea,” Gen Salami said during an address to a group of IRGC commanders and officers in the central Iranian city of Isfahan.

Also, in a seperate decree on Sunday, the Iranian Leader appointed Maj. Gen. Jafari as commander of ‘Hazrat Baqiyat Allah Al-A’zam Cultural and Social Base’.

“Given your willingness to be present on cultural scenes to play a role in soft warfare and appreciating your excellent efforts during your term in office as IRGC top commander, I appoint you as commander of ‘Hazrat Baqiyat Allah Al-A’zam Cultural and Social Base’,” Ayatollah Khamenei said in a part of his decree.

Maj. Gen. Jafari was IRGC’s top commander for almost 12 years.