A former IRGC provincial commander who was recently appointed as governor was slapped by another military officer during his inauguration ceremony on Saturday.

Abedin Khorram who earlier this week was appointed as Governor of East Azerbaijan Province was slapped by “a member of the armed forces” in the presence of Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi, according to Fars news agency affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard.

Fars, without naming the individual, said that he had a personal issue with Khorram, who offered another explanation to the state television.

The new governor said that the person who slapped him was angry because “a man [not a woman] had administered his wife’s Covid-19 vaccine”. According to Islamic rules, opposite sexes who are not immediate family members should not touch one another.

Khorram was asked how the person was able to enter the inauguration venue. He replied that obviously there was lapse of security and officials will investigate that.

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi (Raeesi) has appointed many IRGC officers in top positions, which has led to criticism by many. Khorram was commander of Revolutionary Guards in the same province until he was appointed governor.