Mojtaba Khamenei Appoints Six Senior Military Commanders

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei appointed six senior commanders to key positions within the General Staff, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and Basij domestic security force.

Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi was confirmed as commander-in-chief of the IRGC with the rank of major-general, succeeding Mohammad Pakpour, who was killed during the US and Israeli attack on Iran in late February. Mostafa Izadi was named Vahidi’s deputy. Major-General Ali Abdollahi was appointed chief of staff of the Armed Forces, with Brigadier-General Kioumars Heydari as his deputy.

Rear Admiral Ali Ozmaei was named commander of the IRGC Navy, and Hossein Taeb was appointed head of the Basij. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated the six commanders demonstrated experience during two recent imposed wars. These appointments followed the naming of former IRGC commander-in-chief Mohsen Rezaei as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and Khamenei’s representative.

Khamenei had remained out of the public eye since taking power in early March, leading to speculation about his health, which President Masoud Pezeshkian stated was perfect health. Iran's Mehr News Agency released a video claimed to be new, but it was fact-checked as older footage. A senior paramilitary commander stated footage would be released to dispel health rumors.