Iran's top leader appointed a new chief for the country's navy, state media reported Tuesday.

 

The official IRNA news agency said Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appointed Admiral Shahram Irani as the new navy chief under the country's army. Admiral Irani was working as a senior army officer so far. He became successor of Admiral Hossein Khanzadi, who held the post since 2017.

 

In his decree, Khamenei urged Admiral Irani to improve the navy. No reason was given for the replacement.

 

Iran's navy, under the army, is mainly in charge of operation in Sea of Oman and beyond in international waters.

 

The paramilitary Revolutionary Guard oversees a separate navy in the Persian Gulf. The U.S. Navy occasionally complains about harassment by the Guard's gunboats.