Iran has appointed former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Mohsen Rezaei to lead the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), according to reports on Monday. Rezaei, who led the IRGC from 1981 to 1997, is subject to an Interpol Red Notice for his alleged involvement in planning the 1994 AMIA Jewish community center bombing in Buenos Aires that killed 85 people. He replaces Mohammad-Bagher Zolghadr and becomes the second person to head the council since Ali Larijani was killed in March.
Iran has appointed former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Mohsen Rezaei as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), the country's top security body, in a move that consolidates power under the new leadership of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. The appointment, first reported by The Zioneer on Sunday, was confirmed by Iranian media and a presidential aide on Monday, following a day of rapid developments.
The appointment places Rezaei, who led the IRGC from 1981 to 1997, at the helm of Iran's strategic decision-making on defense and foreign policy. Rezaei is subject to an Interpol Red Notice for his alleged involvement in planning the 1994 AMIA bombing in Buenos Aires, which killed 85 people. He replaces Mohammad-Bagher Zolqadr, who had taken over the role after Ali Larijani was killed in March.
The Zioneer's reporting on Sunday tracked the evolution of the story: initial reports of Rezaei's appointment were briefly deleted, then confirmed by Iranian media, President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. By Sunday evening, the appointment was officially confirmed by the presidential aide, Mehdi Tabatabai. The appointment is seen as part of a broader reorganization of Iran's security leadership under the new acting Supreme Leader, placing a veteran hardliner in a key position amid heightened tensions with Israel.
Rezaei's appointment comes as Iran faces ongoing Israeli strikes on its military infrastructure and operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. His record as a former IRGC commander and his international legal status are likely to draw scrutiny from Western governments. The Zioneer has previously reported on Rezaei's role in the AMIA bombing and his rise within the Iranian leadership.
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