Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani, named to the key post on Tuesday, will take over from Saeed Jalili who represented Iran in the comprehensive talks with the P5+1 group of world powers - Russia, China, Britain, France, and the US plus Germany.
Shamkhani, a deputy commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) during the 1980-88 Iraqi imposed war, went on to become commander of Iran Navy after the end of the war.
He served as defense minister in the two administrations of former president, Mohammad Khatami, from 1997 to 2005.
Shamkhani also advises Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on military affairs.
Also on Tuesday, Rouhani appointed Ma’soumeh Ebtekar as Vice President and Head of the Department of Environment (DOE).
Ebtekar held the same post under Khatami from 1997-2005. She is also the first Iranian woman to serve as vice president.
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