Iran Appoints Mohsen Rezaei to Lead Supreme National Security Council Amid Rising US Tensions

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian appointed Mohsen Rezaei as Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council on Sunday, a move signaling a shift in Iran's power structure. Concurrently, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei named Rezaei as his representative on the council, consolidating two key roles in the body responsible for shaping Tehran's foreign and security policies. The Supreme National Security Council is Iran's central authority on national security and foreign affairs, and its secretary is considered one of the most influential figures in the Iranian political-military establishment.

In his appointment decree, Khamenei praised Rezaei's extensive experience, referring to him as a pioneer of the "glorious era" of the eight-year Sacred Defense (Iran-Iraq War). Rezaei, a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, recently became an advisor to Khamenei's son and is known for his hardline stances against the United States and Israel. His appointment comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the US, particularly over the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing nuclear deal negotiations.

Reports indicate that US President Donald Trump is considering declaring victory in a conflict with Iran if Tehran reopens the Strait of Hormuz, even without a renewed nuclear agreement. Rezaei has emphasized the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, stating it is more critical to Iran than its nuclear program and warned that Iran will not remain passive if the US does not change its behavior.