Iran appoints former IRGC chief as top security official amid Hormuz re-opening talks

Iran has appointed former Revolutionary Guard commander Mohsen Rezaei as the new head of its powerful supreme national security council President Masoud Pezeshkian announced on Sunday. This comes after Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr resigned from the post. The leadership change also comes as Tehran remains engaged in discussions over the re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz and continues to adjust its security establishment following the loss of senior officials during the war. The announcement was made by presidency spokesman Mehdi Tabatabaei on X. “In light of the resignation of Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr from his position as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and his appointment to new functions, President Masoud Pezeshkian has named Mohsen Rezaei as the head of this body,” Tabatabaei said. Shortly after the appointment, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei also announced Rezaei’s new role on X. In one post, he wrote, “In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. Dr. Mohsen Rezaee. Considering your valuable experience, I am hereby appointing you, who were one of the first commanders in the triumphant 8-Year Sacred Defense, to be my representative in the Supreme National Security Council.” In a separate post, Khamenei added, “Dr Mohsen Rezaee, I am hopeful that you will achieve great successes in carrying out this important responsibility [Leader’s representative in the Supreme National Security Council].” Rezaei, 71, is a former commander in chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and led the force from 1981 to 1997, including through most of the Iran-Iraq war. He later held several senior political positions and most recently served as a military adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. The appointment marks another reshuffle at the top of Iran’s national security apparatus. Zolghadr had assumed leadership of the council in March after the death of Ali Larijani in an Israeli strike. Following his resignation, Zolghadr has now been appointed political adviser to Khamenei, according to a statement from the supreme leader’s office. The Supreme National Security Council is one of Iran’s most influential decision-making bodies, bringing together senior political, military and security officials. The latest change reflects continued adjustments within the country’s leadership as it responds to wartime losses and ongoing strategic challenges. Rezaei has been closely associated with Iran’s hardline security establishment and recently underscored the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz. In July, he declared that control of the waterway was “more important than dozens of atomic bombs”. Earlier this month, he also said Iran would never allow an unauthorised route through the Strait of Hormuz, which had been considered an international waterway before the war and Tehran’s subsequent assertion of control. Talks on re-opening the Strait of Hormuz Discussions on re-opening the Strait of Hormuz have gained momentum after progress was reported in negotiations involving Oman and Iran. A US official said a deal was expected soon and indicated that Washington would lift its blockade of Iranian ports once the agreement was announced. The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical global energy corridor and has become a central issue in the ongoing confrontation involving Iran and the United States.