Amir Hatami (Minister of Defence of Iran) Age, Death, Family, Biography

Some Lesser Known Facts About Amir Hatami

• Amir Hatami was born in 1966 in Zanjan, Iran and joined the Basij force at the age of 14 and began his early military involvement.

• In 1984, he officially joined the Iranian Army Ground Forces. He participated in the Iran–Iraq War and gained battlefield experience during Operation Mersad.

• After the war, he held key positions, including head of the Army’s international relations office. He also served as a deputy in the Armed Forces General Staff.

• On 17 August 2017, he defended his nomination during a parliamentary session in Tehran. In August 2017, he was appointed as Iran’s Minister of Defence.
  

  Amir Hatami when he became the Minister of Defence

• He became the first Defence Minister selected from the regular army instead of the Revolutionary Guards in over two decades.

• In September 2017, he stated that boosting Iran’s missile program would be his top priority. He said Iran had a specific plan to increase ballistic and cruise missile capabilities.

• He also announced plans to export weapons to strengthen regional allies and prevent conflicts. He stated that weapons exports would be used to increase regional security when necessary.

• In July 2017, the United States imposed sanctions on Iran over its missile program. During his tenure from 2017 to 2021, he focused on strengthening defence industries and missile development.
  

  Amir Hatami during a program

• In October 2019, he thanked Iraqi officials for securing the Arbaeen pilgrimage attended by millions of Iranian pilgrims.

• He spoke with Iraq’s Joint Forces chief, Interior Minister, and a Hashd al-Shaabi commander. He appreciated the Iraqi government and people for their hospitality during the Arbaeen season.

• In June 2025, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appointed him Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Army.

• He replaced Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi after the assassination of General Mohammad Bagheri.

• He was tasked with improving combat readiness and strengthening coordination among military branches.

• In January 2026, he warned that Iran would respond to hostile rhetoric from the United States and Israel.
  

  Amir Hatami at a meeting

• During the same period, economic protests were taking place across several Iranian provinces.

• In February 2026, the United States and Israel carried out major military strikes on Iran. Explosions were reported in Tehran and other cities, and smoke was seen rising from buildings.

• After the strikes, social media posts claimed that Amir Hatami was killed in Israeli airstrikes. Some international reports cited Israeli sources and claimed he died in pre-emptive attacks.

• Iranian authorities denied the claims and confirmed he was safe and actively commanding the armed forces. His office issued an official statement calling the death reports false and misleading.