Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei appointed Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri (photo) 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, Fars News Agency (FNA) reported.

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 this new 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.