“Promoting security and defense preparedness, enhancing the Armed Forces’ capabilities to counter threats, and boosting popular mobilization are among my most important plans,” Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri told reporters in Tehran on Tuesday.
He made the remarks on the sidelines of a high-profile meeting held to introduce him as the new Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces and bid farewell to the previous chief, Major General Hassan Firouzabadi.
Major General Baqeri further highlighted the current security situation across the country and said thank God, there is full security in border areas, including those in northwestern and southeastern provinces, just like central parts of the country.
The gathering was attended by almost all senior Iranian military commanders and officials.
Meanwhile, Baqeri, the youngest Iranian major general, issued separate decrees on Tuesday to appoint his deputies.
Major General Baqeri took his new post under a June 28 decree by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, also Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Armed Forces.
In the decree, the Leader called for efforts to upgrade the defense capabilities of the Iranian armed forces and the Basij forces, and prepare the situation for timely and effectual response with revolutionary deeds to threats –of any type and at any level- against the Islamic Republic of Iran.