TEHRAN (FNA)- New Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri said on Tuesday that combating threats and increasing the defensive power of Iran's military troops will stand atop his agenda.

"Enhancing the Armed Forces' defensive and security capabilities, boosting the ability to confront threats and also upholding popular mobilization are among the most important programs (of the Iranian Armed Forces)," Major General Baqeri told reporters on Tuesday.


Major General Baqeri reiterated that boosting Iran's defensive preparedness beyond the country's borders in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, the Sea of Oman and Northern Indian Ocean has been pursued due to Iran's naval prowess and will be followed up more than before.


"In fact the Iranian Armed Forces' plans have been devised on such bases and approved by Supreme Leader (of the Islamic revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei)."


The new chief of staff underlined that security has been enhanced in border regions and provinces, specially in Northwestern and Southeastern Iran, and said, "Thanks God the government and private sectors can easily perform their duties in those regions (border regions) like the inner parts of the country due to (restoration of ) full security."


"Rendering assistance to the oppressed people of the region against oppression, aggression and cruelties and terrorist attacks will be a top priority of the armed forces," he reiterated.


Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri was appointed by Ayatollah Khamenei as chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, the first such replacement in the Islamic Republic's history.









Major General Baqeri replaced former Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Hassan Firouzabadi last Tuesday.


General Firouzabadi has been appointed as the top military aide of the Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Armed Forces (i.e. the Supreme Leader).


Major General Baqeri is a veteran commander of Iran's Armed Forces and he is the brother of Mohammad Hassan Baqeri who was the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) first Intelligence and Operations Commander and martyred in 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war. The martyred Baqeri is recognized as a war hero.


Mohammad Hossein was the deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces before today's appointment.


Major General Firouzabadi has also been appointed as Supreme Leader's military advisor.


General Firouzabadi was in the post ever since the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces was established in 1989.


By Fars News Agency