Iran Focus

Tehran, Iran, Sep. 01 - Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday appointed a new commander for the Islamic Republic's regular air force.

Brigadier General Hassan Shah-Safi took over the position from Brigadier General Ahmad Miqani.

Iranian state media said that Khamenei called for Iran's air force to upgrade its military equipment in the face of the possibility of airstrikes on its nuclear sites by the West.

Iran has a dual military system with a regular armed forces as well as the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). Both have their own army, navy, and air force and report directly to Supreme Leader Khamenei.

Khamenei on 25 August appointed Brigadier General Ahmad-Reza Pourdastan as the new commander of the Islamic Republic's regular army ground forces.

Pourdastan replaced Brigadier General Mohammad-Hassan Dadras.

One analyst speaking on condition of anonymity from Tehran told Iran Focus that the replacements at the highest levels of the Iranian armed forces simultaneous with major reshuffling in the IRGC’s top brass indicate a concern by Khamenei that his regime, unpopular at home, would not be able to sustain itself in case of military intervention by the West.

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