Iran’s new head of the Iranian Army has said he will defend the country’s “territorial integrity,” according to Iran’s state media.

Maj. Gen.-Amir Hatami replaced Abdolrahim Mousavi who was recently appointed the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces after Israel killed former chief of staff Gen. Mohammad Bagheri. As such, Hatami is speaking up from his new position to try to show that Iran is secure. It is clear that Iran is not secure because Israel has decimated the country’s air defenses and carried out numerous strikes inside Iran.

Hatami vowed that the army would strike “hard at Israel” in response to Israel’s attacks over the last three days. It is not clear what Iran’s army possesses that could reach the Jewish state. In general, the Iranian regime has starved the army of resources in favor of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp.

“With the support of the brave and selfless soldiers of the revolutionary Army, we will protect the independence, territorial integrity, and sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the last breath,” he said.

Hatami also offered condolences for those who have already fallen in the war. Iran’s state media IRNA noted that “he said the Army has already taken effective steps in response to the Israeli regime’s aggression and will continue to deliver ‘severe blows’ to the occupying regime ‘with full readiness.’”

Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Army Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi speaks during a rally outside the former US embassy in the capital Tehran on November 4, 2019, to mark the 40th anniversary of the Iran hostage crisis (credit: Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images)
Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Army Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi speaks during a rally outside the former US embassy in the capital Tehran on November 4, 2019, to mark the 40th anniversary of the Iran hostage crisis (credit: Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Iran’s Speaker of Parliament Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf put out a statement congratulating his country’s new military commanders, stressing parliament’s support for the armed forces. Maj.-Gen. Mohammad Pakpour is the new chief commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and Maj.-Gen. Ali Shademani is the new commander of the Khatam al-Anbia Headquarters. Their predecessors were killed by Israel.

Israel eliminated many top Iranian commanders

He also commemorated those who had been killed by Israel, which eliminated several top Iranian commanders in its strikes on June 13. “These noble martyrs served with unwavering devotion and strategic excellence, he said,” IRNA noted, “adding that they were tireless and true servants of the nation.”

Qalibaf is a very influential politician. He has often traveled on behalf of Iran to shore up its allies abroad. During Israel’s airstrikes on Hezbollah in 2024, he even flew into Beirut, reportedly flying the plane himself.