Shamkhani Appointed Secretary of Iran’s Defense Council
Officials Clarify Appointment Was Issued Earlier, as Defense Council Emerges as Key Post-War Security Body
Iran | PUREWILAYAH.COM - Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani has been appointed Secretary of Iran’s Defense Council by decree of President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to Mehr News Agency, citing the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.
The appointment resurfaced in public discourse after being reported by Nour News, a media outlet close to Shamkhani. However, government officials later clarified that the decree itself was not new and had been issued earlier, making the recent coverage a delayed disclosure rather than a fresh decision.
Clarification from the Presidential Office
Following the media reports, Seyyed Mohammad-Mehdi Tabatabaei, Deputy for Communications and Information at the Office of the President, stated that the Defense Council was established during the 12-day war as a council operating under the Supreme National Security Council.
He emphasized that the presidential decree appointing the secretary of the council had already been issued at the time and that there was no specific necessity for it to be publicly released when it was first enacted.
Mandate and Responsibilities of the Defense Council Secretary
Under the terms of the decree, the Secretary of the Defense Council is tasked with establishing and administering the council’s secretariat and overseeing its specialized programs. These responsibilities include:
Comprehensive design and strengthening of national defense readiness
Development of mechanisms to confront emerging and non-traditional threats
Coordination and synergy among the various pillars of power of the Islamic Republic within the defense domain
Formulation of frameworks for defense diplomacy
Organization of strategic communications and cognitive warfare activities within Iran’s broader defense strategy
Post-War Formation of the Defense Council
The Defense Council was formed in the aftermath of the 12-day war in response to evolving threat environments. Its stated objective is to enhance coordination, cohesion, and effectiveness in defense-related decision-making while strengthening deterrence at the highest strategic levels.
Rear Admiral Shamkhani has been present in the Defense Council since its inception in his capacity as the Representative of the Leader, maintaining a continuous role within the body from its earliest stages. (PW)