Iran appoints veteran Mohsen Rezaei to lead Supreme National Security Council

In Tehran, President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that former Revolutionary Guard commander Mohsen Rezaei will assume leadership of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, following the resignation of Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr. Rezaei, aged 71, commanded the Guards throughout most of the Iran-Iraq war and later served as a senior military adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. He has recently emphasized the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, describing it as more critical than numerous atomic bombs.

Zolghadr, also a former Guards commander, will transition to a political advisory position for the supreme leader, according to a statement from the leader's office. The change was communicated by presidential spokesperson Mehdi Tabatabaei via the X platform. This reshuffle occurs as Iran continues to navigate heightened friction with the United States over maritime security.