Al-Monitor - Iran�s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appointed Hossein Salami as the�new commander�of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).�After nearly 12 years at�the head of Iran�s most influential military force, Mohammad Ali Jafari will head the Hazrat Baqiatollah al-Azam Cultural and Social Headquarters. Ayatollah Khamenei thanked Jafari for his service to the IRGC and �introducing the Islamic revolution,� stating�that in his new position he will play a role in the �second step of the revolution.�


Salami is the eighth�commander of the IRGC. The IRGC was created to answer directly to the supreme leader to safeguard the revolution, but the group has seen its role expand over the�decades. Regarding the change in leadership,�Jahan�newspaper, which is believed to be linked to the country�s security agencies, wrote that�Iran has successfully left�proxy wars behind and is now entering a new era of �more clear confrontation� with the United States and Israel.


Jahan�published�some of Salami�s previous quotes to back up the idea that�a more confrontational era awaits, including:


�The end of negotiations and compromise with America is war.�


�Netanyahu needs to learn how to swim in the Mediterranean.�

�No decision in the region can be implemented without Iran.�

�We�ll answer inspections of military sites with hot lead.�

�Our response to any military attack will certainly be military, not political.�

Read more here