Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met with the new commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on June 23 and called for strengthening deterrence power to safeguard national security.
According to a statement from the presidential office, Pezeshkian stressed that enhancing defense and deterrence capabilities is a top priority, especially amid increasingly complex external threats. He also praised the IRGC's role in maintaining regional stability.
The meeting came after Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appointed a new IRGC commander to replace his predecessor. The move is seen as part of efforts to restructure Iran's most important security force.
Analysts suggest that the new appointment and the call for stronger deterrence reflect Tehran's hardline stance on defense matters amid a volatile Middle East situation, particularly concerning its nuclear program and regional military activities.
The IRGC is an elite military force directly subordinate to Iran's Supreme Leader, playing a central role in the country's military operations and political influence in Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon.
