IRGC Brig. Gen. Mostafa Mohammad Njjar, Iran’s Interior Minister, said on Monady that Iran would take revenge on Israel for assassination of the country’s physicist Masoud Alimohammadi [Fars News Agency, 18 Januray]. Najjar did not discuss the evidence of Israeli involvement in the assassination. Alimohammadi was killed last Tuesday when a bomb strapped to a parked motorcycle was triggered by remote control outside his home in Tehran.
Technically, isn't Mr. Najjar now a civilian? In associating him with his former rank, perhaps it would be more appropriate to refer to him as:
ReplyDeleteBrigadier General Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, IRGC (Ret.)
Upon retirement or being killed in action, is it traditional for officers in the Iranian military to be awarded the next rank in line? If so, this would make him a Major General, IRGC (Ret.).
i believe iran choose to strike israel mussad head quater in israel and may kill dagar the mussad leader to show his capability to middel east and to the world has be to patiant with them.time of true intellegent war has begone that israel must face the power of forces in the front never seen before the intire rood is open for iranian forces in the middle east and show up will come vary fast than any one think of,is israel can be able to stand iran forces? can israel has manuvarability in her house ? how will iran will strike in first wave to them? but for shore by this week iran will respond heavy to israel intellegant agancy and also usa they will not setting in dark wall to face strike and do the defence all the time.
ReplyDeleteMark,
ReplyDeleteI have no information that Gen. Najjar has either resigned or retired from IRGC. I might be mistaken, but one can serve in the cabinet while still in uniform (although he would normally wear civilian cloths). I will check on this and appreciate if you have information clarifying this policy.
Najjar's importance is not just his current job but his senior IRGC affiliation, an organization that is highly influential in decision-making process for any "retaliation" against Israel.
Nader, the evidence for a resignation or suspension of active duty lies in the fact that Mr. Najjar no longer wears his IRGC BrigGen uniform to any state functions (as is the case with active duty military personnel in the Defense Ministry), and he is no longer seated or in attendance as a high ranking military official at military state functions. Since taking over as Interior Minister, he is always seen in civilian clothes, in the role and context of civilian authority.
ReplyDeleteNow, there are precedents for Iranian military figures being placed in positions of civilian authority or oversight, while retaining rank and uniform, as was the case with BrigGen Naqdi. But the present situation for Mr. Najjar, from all outside appearances, looks to be different.
The Iranian press does not refer to him as a BrigGen or any title befitting an active duty military official. Instead, he is simply referred to as Minister of the Interior.
For a US comparison, while retired from the US Army and serving as SoS, Colin Powell was never referred to by his former military rank. On the other hand, active duty military officers such as USAF Gen Michael Hayden, Director of NSA and later the CIA, retained military rank and uniform.
Thanks, as always. The depth of your knowledge is so incredible.
ReplyDelete