Mohsen Rezaei, former head of the Revolutionary Guard, takes on an important role in Iran’s security apparatus

Mohsen Rezaei, one of the most prominent figures of Iran’s hardline establishment, has been appointed to head the Secretariat of the Supreme National Security Council.

This decision comes at a delicate moment, over five months after tensions with Washington erupted, and is interpreted as a clear sign of the empowerment of a close ally of Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the Supreme Leader.

The 71-year-old former Guard commander replaces Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr in this role, who will now serve as a political advisor to Ali Khamenei. The Supreme National Security Council is a key pillar of the Iranian state, where security policies and international relations are coordinated. This body is chaired by President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Rezaei’s path began immediately after the 1979 Revolution, when he joined the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. At the young age of 27, he was placed in the highest command post of this force, which he led for 16 years, overseeing the bulk of the bloody Iran-Iraq conflict during 1980-1988.

After leaving the Guard’s leadership, Rezaei became a figure of considerable weight on the political and security scene. He has run for the presidency several times, and between 2021 and 2023 he served as vice president for economic affairs under the administration of Ebrahim Raisi.

Just a few months ago, in March, Rezaei was appointed military advisor to Mojtaba Khamenei, who has taken on a leading role after his father’s death. During the recent confrontation with the United States, Rezaei has adopted a tough rhetoric, expressing strong doubts about the value of dialogue. In his statements, he has even mentioned the scenario of a U.S. ground incursion into Iran, describing it as a chance for Tehran to take hostages from the enemy’s ranks.

Beyond that, his voice has often been heard on the issue of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil trade.

However, Rezaei’s legacy is not free from the shadows of the past. His tenure as commander during the war with Iraq has been questioned, especially for operations that resulted in huge human sacrifices. One particularly controversial episode remains the 1986 Operation Karbala-4, which ended with heavy losses for Iranian troops. Later, Rezaei would argue that the failure of that operation was part of a broader plan to disorient Iraqi forces before the launch of Operation Karbala-5.

With this latest move, Rezaei climbs to one of the highest peaks of Iran’s security architecture, precisely at a time when relations with the United States remain extremely strained.