Basij Forces Commander named as new Iran police chief

Miami Herald:

A veteran of the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war was appointed Saturday as Iran's new police chief, state-run radio reported.

Ismail Ahmadi Moghaddam, an acting commander of the Basij paramilitary within Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards, was appointed head of police by Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. READ MORE

Khamenei urged Moghaddam to provide security and peace for all Iranians, the radio said. The report did not provide further details.

Moghaddam fought during the Iran-Iraq war in 1980s that left more than 1 million people dead on both sides.

Earlier this year, former police chief Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf resigned to run in the June presidential election won by ultraconservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Under Iran's constitution, the supreme leader appoints major law enforcement and military commanders.