TEHRAN - President Hassan Rouhani has congratulated the new commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).

In a Monday letter to Major General Hossein Salami, Rouhani highlighted the major role that the IRGC plays in countering threats against the country.

In a decree on Sunday, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, granted Salami the rank of major general and appointed him as the new IRGC chief.

In his letter to the new commander, Rouhani expressed the hope that wise employment of the IRGC’s capacities and the great potential of its popular forces would mark stronger unity among the country’s armed forces and boost the Islamic Republic’s power in the face of hostile plots and threats, according to the president’s official website.

The president further admired Salami’s predecessor, Major General Jafari, for his sincere service in office.

In the Sunday decree, Ayatollah Khamenei advised Major General Salami to fully upgrade the IRGC’s capabilities and preparedness in all fields, while paying due attention to the IRGC's “internal gem”, that is piety and insight.

Ayatollah Khamenei also called for major steps to be taken under the new command towards all-out improvement of the IRGC.

Besides Rouhani, other top officials, including First Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri, Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani, Judiciary Chief Ebrahim Raisi, and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif congratulated Salami on his new position in separate letters.

SP/PA