Iran appoints former IRGC chief Mohsen Rezaei as national security council secretary

Iran has appointed Mohsen Rezaei, a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and loyal supporter of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, as the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council. Rezaei assumes this role following the recent conflict with the United States. He replaces Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr, who has now been appointed a political adviser to Khamenei.

Rezaei, 71, began his service with the IRGC shortly after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and held the position of commander from 1981 until 1997. During this time, he oversaw the growth of the IRGC's ground, naval, and air forces, both during the Iran-Iraq War and beyond. Known for his involvement in the revolutionary movement and his long-standing political aspirations, Rezaei has been a frequent candidate in Iran's presidential elections since stepping away from military service.

He previously served as vice president for economic affairs from 2021 to 2023 under the late President Ebrahim Raisi. Rezaei holds a doctorate in economics from Tehran University. He has been a vocal critic of the ongoing negotiations, making provocative statements about the United States, including a call for a potential US ground invasion, which he believed would lead to hundreds of American hostages and a billion dollars per detainee.

Rezaei's views have often been at odds with the established peace efforts, and he has persistently accused the United States of violating previous agreements aimed at ending the war.