Leader Appoints Top Commanders

Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei issued separate decrees on Tuesday appointing Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani as deputy chairman of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces and Brigadier General Gholamreza Soleimani as commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps’ Basij Volunteer Forces. 
The Leader expressed gratitude for services and efforts by the current deputy chairman of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Ataollah Salehi, and instructed Ashtiani “to utilize expert capacities to boost the defense and security capabilities of armed forces”, according to his website. 
Ayatollah Khamenei also thanked the current Basij commander, Brigadier General Gholamhossein Gheibparvar, for his services during his term and instructed Soleimani to make every effort to “promote the culture of resistance”, “preserve the values of the Islamic Revolution”, “expand Jihadi groups” and “foster creativity and synergy among Basij forces”.