Key takeaway: President Hassan Rouhani’s rumored selection of an Artesh officer as defense minister would be the first non-IRGC officer to take on the role in over two decades.
Reformist-leaning Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA) claimed that Rouhani will select Deputy Defense Minister Artesh Brigadier General Amir Hatami to replace IRGC Brigadier General Hossein Dehghan as defense minister for Rouhani’s second term. ILNA’s statement alone is not sufficient evidence of Rouhani’s decision regarding the position, and announcements like this, if true, should be confirmed by other media outlets. Government outlets do not appear to have confirmed ILNA’s claim.
If confirmed, Hatami would be the first non-IRGC officer to take on the role since Akbar Torkan during former President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani’s first term (1989-1993). The Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL) controls Iran’s defense industrial base. The defense minister does not have an operational role in the military. The selection of an Artesh officer as defense minister could indicate the regime’s ongoing willingness to trust Artesh officers with senior leadership positions.
This Iran News Round Up predominantly covers events from July 31 - August 1.
Fatemiyoun fighter to be buried in Tehran.
Afghan Shia militia Fatemiyoun Brigade member Anvar Yavari will be buried on August 3 in Varamin, Tehran Province. Yavari was reportedly killed in Syria. (ABNA)
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ABNAZarif in Istanbul to attend OIC meeting.
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif travelled to Istanbul on to take part in a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on August 1. During the meeting Zarif addressed tensions in Jerusalem told Muslim leaders that they “must not forget” Muslims in Gaza and the West Bank. Zarif stated that Muslim leaders must not allow Israel “to determine the agenda” in the region. (Mehr News Agency)
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Mehr News AgencyJaberi Ansari headed to Moscow to discuss Syria.
Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Jaberi Ansari travelled to Moscow on August 1 ahead of meetings with Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, and Russia's Special Presidential Envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev. Jaberi Ansari’s visit is concurrent with the fifth round of the Astana talks taking place in Tehran from August 1-2. (Fars News Agency) (E)
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Fars News AgencyArtesh 47th flotilla docks in Oman.
The Artesh Navy’s 47th Fleet docked at the port of Salalah in southwest Oman near the Yemeni border on August 1. (Fars News Agency)
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Fars News AgencyGeneral: The IRGC does not have any military education institutions outside of Iran.
Imam Hossein University for Officers and IRGC Training Deputy Head Brig. Gen. Ahmad Mehraban denied that the IRGC has military educational institutions outside of the country. He noted that “our teachers educate voluntary and popular forces like the Popular Mobilization Force” but claimed “Even the IRGC Quds Force does not have training centers in other countries and even in Syria, they use the Syrian bases for fulfilling advisory affairs.” Mehraban’s statements follows alleged claims from the Israeli media that Iran is considering establishing military bases in Syria. (Fars News Agency) (E) (Tasnim News Agency)
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Tasnim News Agency Fars News AgencyNobakht: Green Movement leaders’ house arrest “not unresolvable.”
Government Spokesman Mohammad Bagher Nobakht addressed the house arrest of 2009 Green Movement leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi, and Zahra Rahnavard in remarks on August 1. He stated that “the gate to the solution of this matter is open” and added that “it is not unresolvable.” Rouhani has called for the release of the three Green Movement leaders several times since their house arrest in 2011. Rouhani has clashed with the Judiciary numerous times over the last several months regarding their release. Nobakht’s comments also follow the hospitalization of Mehdi Karroubi on July 24. (Radio Farda)
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Radio FardaILNA publishes full cabinet list.
Reformist-leaning Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA) has published a full list of President Hassan Rouhani’s second-term cabinet. Rouhani is due to announce his cabinet at some point following the first part of his inauguration on August 3. According to the list, Deputy Defense Minister Artesh Brig. Gen. Amir Hatami will replace IRGC Brig. Gen. Hossein Dehghan as defense minister whilst other major posts in the foreign, interior, and intelligence ministries will remain unchanged. If formally appointed, Hatami would be Iran’s first non-IRGC affiliated defense minister since the tenure of Akbar Torkan during the first term (1989-1993) of former President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Government outlets do not appear to have confirmed ILNA’s list. (ILNA)
- Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian announced that he would not serve in that role in Rouhani’s second-term cabinet. He stated that “there are many brothers in this country” who could “do [the job] very well.” (Fars News Agency)