Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has appointed six senior military commanders to key positions in the country’s armed forces, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and the Basij paramilitary force.
According to Iranian state media, Ahmad Wahidi has been promoted to Major General and appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC. Mostafa Izadi will serve as his deputy. Rear Admiral Ali Azmaei has been named the new IRGC Navy Commander. Hossein Taeb has been appointed as the Head of the Basij Force.
Major General Ali Abdollahi has been appointed as Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, with Brigadier General Kioumars Heidari serving as his deputy. The Supreme Leader also appointed Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr as his Political Advisor and Dr. Mohsen Rezaei as his representative in the Supreme National Security Council.
The appointments come amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing security challenges for Iran. The IRGC is Iran’s elite military force responsible for both domestic security and overseas operations, while the Basij is a volunteer paramilitary force under IRGC command.
The General Staff oversees coordination between Iran’s regular army and the IRGC. Changes in these top posts are seen as significant for Iran’s defense and security policy direction. The Supreme Leader in Iran holds the highest authority over the military, foreign policy, and national security matters. Appointments to these positions require his direct approval.
Read also: Iran will not accept Intimidation or greed: Iranian Foreign Minister
