Iran's president appoints Shamkhani as secretary of defense council
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian in a decree appointed Ali Shamkhani as the Secretary of Iran's Supreme Defense Council.
Shamkhani, a navy admiral, was already serving as the Supreme Leader's representative at the Defense Council. He previously served as Iran's defense minister, secretary of Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), and a navy commander.
Iran established the Defense Council under the SNSC, aiming to centralize military decision-making and prepare for crises ranging from war to potential leadership transition following the June war with Israel.
According to a statement by the SNSC Secretariat in August 2025, the council’s core responsibility is to enable swift, centralized defense decisions in wartime or national emergencies.
