Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei Appoints Six Senior Military Commanders

On Monday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei appointed six senior military commanders to key positions within the Armed Forces General Staff, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and the Basij organization. The appointments were announced through six separate decrees. Among the notable changes, Ali Abdollahi was named Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, one of the highest military posts in Iran. Abdollahi, also known as Ali Abdollahi Ali-Abadi, has held various command roles in the IRGC, internal security forces, and government positions, including deputy coordinator of the General Staff since July 2016.

Other appointments include Ahmad Vahidi as IRGC commander, promoted to the rank of general; Kioumars Heydari as deputy chief of the General Staff; Mostafa Izadi as deputy commander of the IRGC; Ali Azmai as commander of the IRGC Navy; and Hossein Taeb, a cleric and former security official, as head of the Basij. These changes reflect a significant reshuffle in Iran’s military leadership.

In a related development, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi appointed Mohsen Rezaei as Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, following the resignation of Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr. Supreme Leader Khamenei also appointed Rezaei as his representative on the council, consolidating his influence in shaping Iran’s security and foreign policy. Zolqadr was reassigned as a political advisor to the Supreme Leader. Rezaei and Saeed Jalili now serve as Khamenei’s representatives on the council.

These appointments come amid ongoing regional tensions, including recent missile activity reportedly linked to US or Saudi strikes against Iran. The reshuffle signals Tehran’s intent to strengthen its military command structure and security policy leadership amid these challenges.