TEHRAN — Iran’s supreme leader, in an unexpected move Tuesday, replaced the general in charge of the armed forces with the general’s deputy, a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.

The replaced general, Hassan Firouzabadi, had held the position of chief of staff since 1989 and is known to have been a confidant of both the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and President Hassan Rouhani.

He was an exception among leading Iranian generals, who are usually changed every six years. His successor, General Mohammad Bagheri, had been serving as deputy chief of staff.

Firouzabadi had been struggling with obesity and was rumored to have undergone at least one operation to lose weight. Health issues could be a reason for his dismissal, analysts said.

Firouzabadi was one of the few military supporters of Rouhani, elected three years ago, and was among the first to speak out in favor of the nuclear agreement reached with world powers.

New York Times