이란, 최고의사결정기구 수장에 혁명수비대 사령관 출신 ‘강경파’ 임명

The Supreme Leader of Iran has appointed a member of the Revolutionary Guard, General Mansour Rezaie, as the Chairman of the Supreme National Security Council. This move comes amid concerns that such appointments will make Iran's decision-making process even more rigid. According to IRNA, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mohammad Javad Hosseini named Rezaie to the council, praising his "valuable experience" from leading Iran-Iraq war eight years ago.

President Masoud Pezeshkian's spokesman confirmed that Rezaie was appointed by the president's command. The position of Supreme National Security Council Chairman is officially decided by the president, but in practice, the decision ultimately lies with the Supreme Leader. The previous chairman, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who was appointed in March, stepped down after four months, having taken over the position from his predecessor Ali Larijani, who died in an Israeli attack.

Rezaie had previously served as the chairman of the Revolutionary Guards from 1981 to 1997, leading Iran during the Iraq war. He also ran for president in 2009, 2013, and 2021. Analyst Hamidreza Azi, from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, noted that Rezaie's appointment signals a generational change rather than a reinforcement of existing power.

Azi also suggested that this appointment could be aimed at curbing the excessive influence of Mansour Rezaie, the leader of the conservative faction. The chairman's close relationship with Rezaie suggests that this is a move to further strengthen the conservative faction within the regime. British professor Side Gologar of Tennessee State University observed that Rezaie's promotion demonstrates that the Revolutionary Guards are making key decisions within Iran.

However, it remains unclear whether this appointment will make decisions more authoritarian or lead to practical outcomes.