Iran names ex-Revolutionary Guards chief to top security post amid U.S. economic pressure

Iran has appointed Mohsen Rezai, the former commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, to lead its Supreme National Security Council. The presidency announced the move on Sunday, with Rezai replacing Mohamad Baqer Zolqadr. Rezai, 71, previously led the powerful ideological army from 1981 to 1997 and has held significant positions within the clerical establishment. He was named a military advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in March. Rezai recently stated that the Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran has threatened to block, holds more importance than "atomic bombs." This appointment occurs as the United States intensifies economic pressure on Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump, while suggesting further economic sanctions, has stepped back from ordering additional military strikes. Axios reported Trump's comments that the U.S. is "taking it easy" and observing Iran's economic struggles, including high inflation. Trump described the ongoing negotiations and pressure as a strategic "chess game," indicating a desire for a deal to end the conflict initiated by the U.S. and Israel. Iran demands the U.S. lift sanctions and unblock its ports as per a prior understanding. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has impacted global fuel prices and put pressure on the Trump administration ahead of the November midterm elections.