More offensive role for Iran’s conventional army following Trump’s election

Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reorganized the chain of command for the quarter-of-a-million strong conventional army with new appointments and structural changes, in the wake of Donald Trump’s election as US president. This is reported by Western military sources. All branches of the military command structure are being reshaped to enhance its ability to deploy and use conventional military power through the Middle East. They are being rebalanced to shift the army from its defensive posture to a more active in role in supporting Iran’s expeditionary operations. DEBKAfile’s military sources add that the changes aim at converting the Iranian army into a rapid intervention force that is better able to challenge US interests in the Middle East and those of its allies, including Israel. This transformation will certainly be speeded up in the light of Gen. James Mattis’ coming appointment as the next defense secretary, as well as word that the incoming president is weighing the application of strong sanctions against Iran.