Iran’s top military brass voice readiness to cooperate with Pezeshkian’s government
Iran’s highest-ranking military commander has expressed the Armed Forces’ readiness to cooperate and interact with President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian’s administration following his runoff election victory.
Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri made the statement in a message on Sunday as he congratulated Pezeshkian after the seasoned parliamentarian-cum-heart surgeon emerged victorious in the second round of the presidential vote on July 5.
Pezeshkian garnered more than 16 million votes against ex-nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, who secured upwards of 13 million out of over 30 million votes cast, with the voter turnout standing at almost 50 percent.
Baqeri praised in a message the high Iranian turnout as “scintillating” and described the election as a major factor in consolidating national unity and protecting the country’s independence and security against hostile plots by the enemies.
“As in the past, we announce the readiness of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran to cooperate and interact with the 14th government,” the top general said.
“I hope that by further strengthening the defense capabilities of the Armed Forces, we will make a big leap in establishing the authority, deterrence power, security and defense of the sacred ideals of the Islamic Republic and our holy land,” he added.
Pezeshkian’s new administration, the 14th one after the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, will hold office for four years and is slated to be inaugurated and sworn in late July.
