Iran's supreme leader appoints former IRGC commander as national security chief

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has chosen former IRGC commander Mohsen Rezaei to serve as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, replacing Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, according to state media reports. Rezaei, who previously held the role for eight years, is praised by Khamenei for his "valuable experiences" and his pivotal role in the eight-year Sacred Defence against Iraq in the 1980s.

Rezaei, who commanded the IRGC from 1981 to 1997, also served on the Expediency Discernment Council and the Supreme Council for Economic Co-ordination. As secretary of the council, he will represent Khamenei in coordinating security and foreign policy. The council includes high-ranking military, intelligence, and government officials.

Khamenei's decree also thanked Zolghadr for his "round-the-clock efforts" since taking over from Larijani after Larijani's death in US-Israeli strikes in March. Rezaei's appointment comes as Iran and the US remain at odds over reopening the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively closed since the outbreak of the Iran war.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi recently stated that Iran is close to an agreement with Oman on managing the waterway, but insisted that reopening would depend on Iran's demands being met by the US.