Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has initiated a significant restructuring of the nation’s top military command. The move, announced on Monday, involves the appointment of six senior commanders across the armed forces, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and the Basij Resistance Force, occurring as tensions with the United States remain high.
The new appointments include Ali Abdollahi as chief of staff of the Armed Forces and Kioumars Heydari as deputy chief of staff. Within the IRGC, Ahmad Vahidi has been promoted to major general and named commander-in-chief, while Mostafa Izadi takes on the role of deputy commander-in-chief. Additionally, Ali Azmaei has been appointed commander of the IRGC Navy, and Hossein Taeb has been named head of the Basij Resistance Force.
This reshuffle represents the first major military reorganization overseen by Khamenei since he assumed the role of supreme leader. He succeeded his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed during a US-Israeli strike in February.
Further changes were announced on Sunday, when a decree confirmed the appointment of former IRGC chief Mohsen Rezaee as the supreme leader’s representative to the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC). Rezaee replaces Mohammad Baqir Zolghadr in the role, which was previously held by Ali Larijani until his death in US-Israeli strikes this past March. An official account attributed to Khamenei on X highlighted Rezaee’s extensive experience as a commander during the Iran-Iraq war.
The recent command changes coincide with persistent speculation regarding Khamenei’s health and his continued absence from public view. Reports suggest he may have been wounded in the same strike that claimed his father’s life, and he has not made a public appearance since taking office.
In an effort to address these concerns, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that the supreme leader is “completely healthy.” Pezeshkian described a recent seven-hour meeting with Khamenei, during which they discussed the national economy, the welfare of the public, and the ongoing impact of US sanctions. According to the president, Khamenei emphasized the necessity of maintaining “unity and cohesion” within the country.
Despite these official assurances, questions regarding the leadership remain. Previous reports have noted that contact with the supreme leader has been difficult, and recent public discourse has focused on the release of video footage and images intended to confirm his status.
Source: Gulf News
