Mohammad-Reza Gharaei Ashtiani ( Persian : محمدرضا قرایی آشتیانی ; born 1960) is an Iranian military officer who has served as the deputy chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces since 28 August 2024. Ashtiani served as the former minister of defence in Iran, and was sworn in on 25 August 2021, replacing Brigadier General Amir Hatami who had held the role since 2017.