Iran Appoints New Military, IRGC Chiefs Amid Tensions

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has issued decrees appointing six new officials to top military and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) positions. These appointments fill vacancies left by commanders who were killed in Israeli and US strikes during Operations Roaring Lion and Epic Fury.

Ali Abdollahi has been appointed chief of staff of Iran's Armed Forces, with Kioumars Heydari as his deputy. Abdollahi, previously commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, steps into a role vacant since the assassination of Abdolrahim Mousavi. Sanctioned by the United States since 2020, Abdollahi has a long career within the IRGC, joining after the 1979 revolution and serving in the Iran-Iraq War. His past roles include deputy commander of Law Enforcement Forces and deputy interior minister for Security and Law Enforcement Affairs.

Ahmad Vahidi has been formally named the head of the IRGC, with Mostafa Izadi as his deputy. Vahidi is reportedly influential and known for his alleged role in planning Hezbollah’s 1994 Buenos Aires bombing. The Institute for the Study of War noted that Vahidi and his inner circle have gained control over Iran's military response and negotiating strategy. Izadi, Vahidi’s deputy, has four decades of military and IRGC experience, including commanding IRGC ground forces.

The appointments occur as armored vehicles and IRGC forces have been deployed across Tehran, with martial law effectively imposed. Kioumars Heydari, Abdollahi’s deputy, has faced sanctions from the OFAC, EU, and the UK for his involvement in suppressing protests in 2019 and 2022. Ahmad Vahidi's influence is significant, with reports suggesting direct contact with Khamenei and control over key strategic areas.

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Vahidi and his inner circle have brought not only Iran's military response but also the country's negotiating strategy under their control.