Former IRGC commander Mohsen Rezaei has been appointed secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council amid tensions with the United States.
TEHRAN, IRAN — WEB DESK: Iran has appointed veteran military commander Mohsen Rezaei as secretary of the country’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), placing a prominent hardline figure with decades of military and political experience at the centre of national security decision-making.
Rezaei, 71, replaces Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr as the second-in-command of the council, which coordinates Iran’s security and foreign policy and is chaired by President Masoud Pezeshkian. Zolqadr has been appointed political adviser to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
Former IRGC commander
Rezaei joined the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) shortly after Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution and was appointed commander of the force in 1981 at the age of 27.
He remained in charge for 16 years, including through most of the 1980–88 Iran-Iraq war. During his tenure, the IRGC expanded its ground, naval and air capabilities, helping establish Rezaei as one of the most influential figures in Iran’s military establishment.
After leaving the military command, Rezaei remained active in Iran’s political and security circles. He was also a long-standing presidential candidate and served as vice president for economic affairs from 2021 to 2023 under former President Ebrahim Raisi.
He holds a doctorate in economics from the University of Tehran.
Close adviser to Mojtaba Khamenei
Rezaei’s new appointment comes after he was named military adviser to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei in March.
On Sunday, Khamenei also appointed Rezaei as his representative to the Supreme National Security Council, citing his extensive military experience.
The appointment places Rezaei in a particularly influential position as Iran deals with continuing tensions involving the United States and wider regional security challenges.
Known for hardline positions
Rezaei has frequently taken a tough position on negotiations with Washington during the current conflict.
In April, he said a US ground invasion of Iran would provide Tehran with an opportunity to capture American soldiers as hostages. He also said at the time that he personally opposed extending the ceasefire.
In June, he criticised ambiguities surrounding a memorandum aimed at ending the conflict and later accused Washington of creating tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.
Revolutionary background
Rezaei was involved in opposition to Iran’s Pahlavi monarchy while still a teenager. He was imprisoned by SAVAK, the Shah’s security service, in 1973.
He helped establish and develop the Mansouroun group, an anti-monarchy organisation whose members later became part of the senior leadership of the IRGC following the 1979 revolution.
His return to a senior security position therefore marks the latest chapter in a career spanning Iran’s revolutionary movement, the Iran-Iraq war, the IRGC leadership, electoral politics and the country’s national security establishment.
Why his appointment matters
Rezaei’s appointment brings one of Iran’s most experienced former military commanders into a central role at a time of heightened regional tensions.
His close relationship with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and his longstanding security background could give him significant influence over discussions involving Iran’s defence, foreign policy and relations with Washington.
However, the appointment alone does not establish that Iran will adopt a new policy. Reuters reported that no explanation was immediately given for the change, and it remained unclear whether Rezaei’s appointment would result in a shift in Tehran’s broader strategy
