Mohsen Rezaei
Mohsen Rezaei is a senior Iranian military commander and political official currently serving as the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC). A former Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), he is a primary architect of Iran's regional strategy and a leading voice in the regime's kinetic confrontation with Israel and the United States.
Mohsen Rezaei is one of the most enduring figures in the Islamic Republic's security apparatus. Having commanded the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) for sixteen years (1981–1997), including during the pivotal Iran-Iraq War, Rezaei transitioned into high-level political roles, including the Secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council. In August 2026, he was appointed by the new leadership under Mojtaba Khamenei to serve as the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), replacing Mohammad-Bagher Zolqadr. This move is seen as a strategic consolidation of power, placing a veteran hardliner at the helm of Iran's highest defense and foreign policy body.
Throughout 2026, Rezaei has emerged as a primary voice of Iranian defiance. Following Israeli strikes on Iranian military infrastructure—including air defense systems in Tabriz and drone warehouses in Tehran—Rezaei issued stern warnings that any further action would be met with a "crushing response." He has personally framed missile salvos launched from Iranian soil toward Israel as retaliation for alleged Israeli violations of ceasefire agreements in Lebanon.
Beyond Israel, Rezaei has directed sharp threats toward the United States and President Donald Trump. He has characterized the Strait of Hormuz as a strategic deterrent that outweighs "dozens of nuclear bombs," asserting that Iran would no longer permit passage through the waterway except for routes specifically designated by Tehran. In August 2026, he issued a direct threat to target U.S. aircraft carriers and forces, warning of "heavy risks and casualties" if the naval blockade against Iran continues. His role involves setting the ideological and strategic justification for Iran's kinetic operations, demanding that Washington choose between accepting Tehran's terms or facing a "Third World War." Most recently, in a meeting with the Chinese ambassador, Rezaei linked the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to the cessation of wars in Lebanon and Gaza and the unfreezing of Iranian assets.