Iran's top leader appoints new representatives in top security, defense bodies

TEHRAN, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Thursday appointed his new representatives in the country's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) and the newly-established defense council.

In separate decrees, Iran's leader appointed former SNSC secretaries Ali-Akbar Ahmadian and Ali Shamkhani as his representatives in the defense council, and Ali Larijani, incumbent SNSC secretary, as his representative in the top security body, according to statements published on his website.

On Tuesday, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian appointed Larijani, senior advisor to the top leader and a former parliament speaker, as the SNSC's secretary. Larijani replaced Ahmadian, who had served at the position since May 2023.

Shamkhani had served as the SNSC's secretary from 2013 to 2023.

The SNSC on Sunday approved the establishment of the country's defense council, which would be responsible for "reviewing in a centralized manner the (country's) defense plans as well as the improvement of the Iranian armed forces' capabilities."

The defense council is headed by the president, and comprises the heads of the Iranian government's three branches, namely the executive, judiciary and legislative branches, as well as armed forces' commanders and select ministers. ■