{
  "id": 676258,
  "title": "Who are Tehran’s newly appointed military, IRGC chiefs? - explainer",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/who-are-tehrans-newly-appointed-military-irgc-chiefs-explainer",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-12T15:46:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-905313"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei recently appointed six new military and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officials to leadership positions following the deaths of commanders in recent operations. Ali Abdollahi was appointed as chief of staff of Iran's Armed Forces, replacing a commander killed in Operation Roaring Lion. Kioumars Heydari was named his deputy. Abdollahi, who has a long career in the IRGC and Khamenei's inner circle, was among the first to join the military following the 1979 revolution and has held various positions within the IRGC and other military branches. Heydari, while relatively new to the IRGC, began his service as a volunteer member of the Basij paramilitary force and has been sanctioned by the US and UK. Ahmad Vahidi was named head of the IRGC, with Mostafa Izadi as his deputy. Vahidi, known for his role in the 1994 Buenos Aires bombing of the AMIA building, has been sanctioned by the US and EU. Izadi, another long-time IRGC and military veteran, has served in various command positions and has a history of working closely with Khamenei. Ali Azmaei was appointed head of the IRGC Navy, replacing a commander killed in an airstrike. Azmaei has commanded the IRGC Navy's Fifth Naval Region since its formation and has been sanctioned by the US. Hossein Taeb was named commander of the IRGC's Basij paramilitary forces, known for violently suppressing protests in 2009 and 2019-2022. Khamenei also appointed Mohsen Rezaee as his representative on the Supreme National Security Council and Mohammed Bagher Zolghadr as Khamenei's political advisor. Rezaee, 71, is wanted by Interpol over his involvement in the 1994 Buenos Aires bombing.",
  "summary": "Ali Abdollahi was appointed as chief of staff of Iran's Armed Forces, with Kioumars Heydari named as his deputy.",
  "key_points": [
    "Ali Abdollahi appointed as Iran's Armed Forces chief of staff",
    "Kioumars Heydari named deputy to Abdollahi",
    "Ahmad Vahidi becomes IRGC head, replacing bombing suspect"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/676258.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "CBC News",
        "title": "Top adviser to Iran's IRGC says U.S. military is 'weaker than what we perceived' in rare interview",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/top-adviser-to-irans-irgc-says-u-s-military-is-weaker-than-what-we",
        "published": "2026-08-12T16:32:31.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}