Who Is Amir Hatami, The Man Chosen To Lead Iran’s Army After Israeli Strikes Killed Top Generals?

Last Updated:June 14, 2025, 14:14 IST

With senior commanders killed in Israeli strikes, Ayatollah Khamenei has turned to seasoned Artesh figure Amir Hatami to stabilise Iran’s Army and rebuild command

Major General Amir Hatami has been appointed as the new Chief Commander of Iran’s Army. (Image: Reuters)

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, on Friday announced a significant reshuffle in the country’s military hierarchy, appointing Major General Amir Hatami as the new Chief Commander of Iran’s Army. This change comes in the aftermath of Israeli airstrikes that killed key military leaders, including General Mohammad Hossein Bagheri and General Hossein Salami—two of the most powerful men in Iran’s security establishment.

In the same decree, General Abdolrahim Mousavi was appointed as the Chief of the Armed Forces, replacing Bagheri, while Mohammad Pakpour took over as head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), succeeding Salami.

Who Is Amir Hatami?

Major General Amir Hatami, 59, previously served as Iran’s Defence Minister from 2013 to 2021, under President Hassan Rouhani. He made headlines at the time for being the first defence minister in more than two decades with a background in the Artesh, rather than the IRGC. His tenure marked a rare shift in the balance of power between Iran’s conventional military and the Revolutionary Guard.

Before his ministerial role, Hatami held several key command positions within the Iranian Army. He is a graduate of the elite Imam Ali Officers’ Academy, AJA University of Command and Staff, and Iran’s National Defense University—institutions that train the country’s top military strategists.

Why Hatami’s Appointment Matters

Hatami is no stranger to Iran’s military and political leadership. A veteran of the Iran-Iraq war, referred to in Iran as the “Sacred Defence", Hatami’s appointment signals a potential shift back toward the country’s traditional armed forces, known as the Artesh, amid the long-standing dominance of the IRGC in military affairs.

Khamenei praised Hatami’s “dedication, competence, and experience," calling on him to enhance Iran’s combat readiness and strengthen the ideological and spiritual foundations of the military.

Rising Tensions With Israel

Hatami’s promotion comes as Iran grapples with the fallout from Israeli airstrikes on Tehran that killed top commanders of both the regular army and the IRGC. These strikes, described as among the most high-profile attacks on Iranian soil in recent history, have plunged the region deeper into uncertainty.

The deaths of Bagheri and Salami, two powerful figures close to Iran’s Supreme Leader, appear to have prompted the swift appointments, as Tehran looks to regroup its chain of command during an increasingly volatile moment in West Asia.

Who Is Gen Abdolrahim Mousavi?

General Abdolrahim Mousavi, who now takes over as the Chief of the Armed Forces, previously served as Commander-in-Chief of Iran’s Army. He has been sanctioned by multiple Western countries, including the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, and Australia, for alleged serious human rights violations.

According to advocacy group ‘United Against Nuclear Iran’, the US sanctioned Mousavi in 2023, freezing any assets under its jurisdiction. The EU cited his involvement in crackdowns on anti-government protests as the basis for similar measures.

The Bottom Line

Hatami’s appointment comes at a time when Iran is under pressure to project stability after a dramatic loss of senior commanders. By turning to a seasoned Artesh officer with ministerial experience, Tehran may be signalling a strategic pivot, one that prioritises institutional continuity over ideological assertiveness. Whether this recalibrated leadership can steer Iran through escalating regional hostilities without provoking further escalation remains to be seen.

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