Ali Shamkhani

Ali Shamkhani (علی شمخانی) is an Iranian admiral. He was the Iranian Minister of Defense until August 24, 2005, and was replaced by Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar.

He is an Iranian Arab, born in 1955 in Ahvaz, Khuzestan, he earned a B.S. degree in Agriculture from Jondishapur University, followed by Master's degree from Iran's Army Command Headquarters some years later. He is the editing translator of two volumes in strategic management. He is also author of several papers and articles on the Persian Gulf, regional crises, and political strategic topics.

He is advisor to Iran's head of the Center for Strategic Research in Tehran, and was responsible for drawing up the research system for the national strategic security team at the aforementioned institute.

Two of his brothers, Mohammad and Hamid, were killed (martyrs in Iran) in combat against the Iraqi army during Iran Iraq war. Fact|date=May 2008

Held positions

*1981 - 1982: IRGC commander of Khuzestan province
*1982 - 1989: First deputy commander of the IRGC
*1984 - 1989: Chief commander of the ground force
*1987 - 1989: Deputy chiefs of staff of the armed forces in charge of intelligence and operations
*1988 - 1989: IRGC minister
*1988 - 1989: Head of implementation committee for U.N. Security Council Resolution 598
*1989 – 1997: Commander of IRGC Navy
*1997 - 2005: Iran Minister of Defense

ee also

* Shahab-3
* Arabs of Khuzestan
* List of Iranian commanders in Iran-Iraq War

External links

* [http://www.memritv.org/Transcript.asp?P1=212 On Possible Iranian Preemptive Strike]
* [http://www.webneveshteha.com/othersphotos.asp?id=1791 Picture of him with his son in traditional Iranian Arab costume] from Mohammad-Ali Abtahi weblog.