Iran taps longtime military commander to top security post

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has appointed Mohsen Rezaei as his representative to the country’s Supreme National Security Council, replacing Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, according to Iranian media reports. 

Rezaei was also appointed secretary of the Supreme National Security Council by presidential decree.

Rezaei is a senior Iranian military adviser and former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Citing Rezaei’s “valuable experience,” Khamenei described him as a pioneer of the eight-year “Sacred Defense,” Iran’s term for the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War.

“I wish you every success in carrying out this important responsibility,” the decree said. Khamenei also thanked Zolghadr for his “tireless efforts.”

Rezaei commanded the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from 1981 to 1997.