Iran names new head of top national security body

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has appointed Mohsen Rezaei, a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), as the new head of the country's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC). The announcement came Sunday following the resignation of Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr from the position.

Rezaei, 71, brings extensive military and political experience to the role. He commanded the IRGC from 1981 to 1997, a period encompassing most of the Iran-Iraq war. Subsequently, he held various high-ranking political positions and served as a military adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.

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In light of the resignation of Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr from his position as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and his appointment to new functions, President Masoud Pezeshkian has named Mohsen Rezaei as the head of this body.

In July, Rezaei emphasized the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, stating its control was “more important than dozens of atomic bombs.” This assertion comes amid ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States, with the Strait being a critical chokepoint for global oil transport.

Zolghadr, who also has a background as a former Guards commander, had led the SNSC since March. He is set to transition to a new role as a political adviser to Khamenei, according to a statement from the supreme leader's office.

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control of the Strait of Hormuz, now at the centre of the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States, was “more important than dozens of atomic bombs”.