Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah AliKhamenei has appointed new commanders of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)'s ground force and the Basij militia, Iran's English-language satellite channel Press TV reported Sunday.
In separate decrees, Brigadier-General Mohammad Jafar Assadi was appointed commander of IRGC's ground force, while Hojjatoleslam Hossein Taeb was named the new commander of IRGC's Basij force.
Meanwhile, Brigadier-general Mohammad Hejazi was appointed commander of the Sarallah Military Base, Press TV reported.
Chief of staff of Iran's armed forces Major General Hassan Firouzabadi and high-ranking IRGC commanders attended a ceremony held for the inauguration of the new commanders.
Assadi described the new appointments within the IRGC as highly sensitive, according to Press TV's report.
Taeb said at the ceremony that the Basij has a sensitive and difficult mandate to fulfill, and expressed hope that the force could help the Iranian nation in taking big strides toward advancement.
The new appointments of IRGC commanders came amid heightened speculation that Israel and the United States would attack Iranian targets for Tehran's suspicious nuclear programs.
The United States and its allies have accused Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian nuclear program. Iran has denied the U.S. charges and insists that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.
The Bush administration said it focused on diplomacy to try to resolve Iran's nuclear issue, but has insisted it will take "no option off the table."
Source:Xinhua
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