Lieutenant General Amir Hatami, a top army commander who has been named for the defense minister portfolio and faces an upcoming confirmation hearing in parliament, said boosting Iran’s missile, naval and air defense power would top the ministry’s agenda under his watch.
Addressing a meeting of the principlist faction members on Wednesday, the veteran commander highlighted the need to increase the deterrence power of the Islamic Republic’s military.
“Focusing on the missile, naval, air defense and ground combat sectors would be among the Defense Ministry’s top priorities,” Hatami was quoted as telling the lawmakers by ICANA, a day after Rouhani presented the list of his Cabinet picks to the Majlis for a vote of confidence.
Hatami has been named to replace Lieutenant General Hossein Dehqan who led the Defense Ministry during Rouhani’s first term.
Rouhani has changed nearly 50% of the sitting ministers for the new Cabinet for his second consecutive tenure as president.
