Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has officially appointed Mohsen Rezaee, a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), to the position of secretary of the Supreme National Security Council. In addition to his role as secretary, Rezaee will act as the Supreme Leader’s representative on the council, a move that places him at the heart of Iran’s strategic security and defense decision-making apparatus.

Rezaee succeeds Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr in this role. According to reports from Middle East Eye, Zolghadr had occupied the position following the death of his predecessor, Ali Larijani, who was killed in a reported US-Israeli operation in March. Rezaee, a prominent figure in the Iranian political and military establishment, currently maintains a seat on the Expediency Discernment Council, further cementing his influence within the state's hierarchy.

This appointment is viewed as a consolidation of power for figures with deep roots in the IRGC. While the Iranian government has framed the move as a standard administrative transition, the appointment of a former IRGC chief to such a pivotal security post signals a continued emphasis on military-aligned leadership in the country’s top-tier decision-making bodies. The transition occurs at a time of heightened regional tension, placing Rezaee in a critical position to shape Iran's response to ongoing geopolitical challenges.