By Saleh Hamid

TEHAN — Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued a decree appointing Brigadier General Sayed Abdul Rahim Mousavi as Commander-in-Chief of the Army Forces after his promotion to the rank of Major General, replacing General Attaullah Salehi.

According to Khamenei's official website, the decision included the appointment of Alwaa Salehi as deputy chairman of the General Staff of the Armed Forces.

Khamenei called on the new army commander to "accelerate the process of strengthening the capabilities and preparations of the armed forces and their moral superiority and to enhance the awareness of their members and provide for their daily needs and synergy with other ranks.”

Mousavi is an artillery expert in and had a leading role during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s.

He also held several military posts, including the leadership of the Imam Ali Military University Students Brigade, the President of the Military University, the Commander of the Army in the Northeast, the Assistant Commander of the Ground Force in Educational Affairs, the Assistant Commander of the Army Ground Forces for Planning and Budgeting, the Assistant Chief of the Army in Operations Affairs and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Mousavi, a 56-year-old resident of Qom who holds a Ph.D. in strategic defense sciences from the National Defense University, was also deputy commander-in-chief of the army since 2005. — Al Arabiya English