Now Reading: Iran appoints ex-IRGC chief Rezaei to top security post
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Iran appoints ex-IRGC chief Rezaei to top security post
Iran has appointed former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps chief Mohsen Rezaei as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, replacing Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr. The move, announced on Sunday through presidential channels and…
The Story in Brief
Iran has appointed former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps chief Mohsen Rezaei as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, replacing Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr. The move, announced on Sunday through presidential channels and separately by Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, puts a veteran of the Iran-Iraq War at the centre of Tehran's decision-making during ongoing conflict with the United States and unresolved talks over the Strait of Hormuz.
Rezaei led the IRGC from 1981 to 1997, including through the Iran-Iraq war. He had most recently served as a military adviser to the Supreme Leader. Analysts cited by reports see the appointment as a sign of the continued influence of Iran's security establishment, though Zolghadr has reportedly moved to an adviser role rather than being removed.
The Indian Opinion
Iran-watchers love to cry 'hardliner takeover' every time a former Revolutionary Guard gets a job. But Rezaei replaces Zolghadr, another Guard veteran moved sideways as an adviser. The SNSC coordinates, it does not dictate. The real test is not who sits in Tehran but what happens in the Strait of Hormuz: does Iran harass tankers more in the next month, or less?
Sources (2): timesnownews.com, indiatvnews.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
