Amid the ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran, Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei appointed six high-ranking military officers on Monday, August 10, to restructure the command hierarchy of the armed forces, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and the Basij paramilitary organization.
Experts on counterterrorism believe that the timing of these personnel changes and the language of the related orders indicate that Tehran is consolidating its wartime command system, possibly preparing for a long-term confrontation rather than seeking full reconciliation with the United States.
Omar Mohammed, an extremism researcher at George Washington University, told Fox News, “A country coming out of a conflict would dismantle wartime command arrangements, but Iran is formalizing its wartime command structure.”
He warned that the orders reveal a leadership gearing up for long-term confrontation rather than reconciliation.
At the time of these appointments, Iran and Oman were finalizing a proposed shipping route through the Hormuz Strait. Mohammed noted the significance of Tehran choosing to announce the related news in English on a specific platform.
“Before signing any agreement, Tehran is establishing its command structure as a fait accompli,” he said.
According to the official appointments announced by Iran, Ali Abdollahi was appointed Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, and Kioumars Heydari was named Deputy Chief of Staff.
Ahmad Vahidi was promoted to Major General and appointed Commander of the IRGC, while Mostafa Izadi became Deputy Commander. Ali Azmaei was appointed Commander of the IRGC Navy.
Hossein Taeb was appointed to lead the Basij paramilitary organization.
In the order appointing Vahidi, Khamenei instructed the IRGC to continue enhancing its overall capabilities, achieve maximum deterrence, and be prepared for “powerful offensive operations.”
Several of the newly appointed senior officials have previously faced sanctions from the United States or Europe or have been associated with terrorism-related charges.
Vahidi is a subject of an Interpol red notice for his alleged involvement in the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, which resulted in 85 deaths.
Taeb was sanctioned by the US as early as 2010. The US Treasury Department accused him of leading Basij forces that engaged in beating, killing, and arbitrarily arresting peaceful demonstrators following Iran’s controversial presidential election in 2009.
Heydari was also sanctioned by the US in 2022 for his acknowledgment of involvement in the violent crackdown on protests in November 2019, which led to the deaths of hundreds of demonstrators.
Apart from the military personnel restructuring, there have also been high-level changes in Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).
Former IRGC Commander Mohsen Rezaei was appointed as Secretary of the SNSC, replacing Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr, who took office at the end of March. Khamenei also appointed Rezaei as his representative on the council.
The SNSC is responsible for coordinating Iran’s national security and foreign policy, with members including military, intelligence, and government officials.
Rezaei served as the IRGC Commander from 1981 to 1997, covering most of the period of the Iran-Iraq War from 1980 to 1988, making him a senior figure in Iran’s security system.
These military and national security personnel changes have once again raised concerns about Khamenei’s health status.
His father and former Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, passed away at the beginning of the US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, with Mojtaba Khamenei taking over as Supreme Leader in March. Reuters previously cited sources saying that he was seriously injured in the attack on February 28 on his face and legs.
Since assuming office, Mojtaba has not made any public appearances or released new images or recordings.
However, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on Monday that he recently met with Khamenei for about 7 hours and described his health as good.
Pezeshkian said, “My meeting with the Supreme Leader went very well. We spent about 7 hours discussing all the current issues facing the country.”
They discussed livelihoods, employment, housing, sanctions, and other internal and external policy challenges, with Khamenei stressing the importance of maintaining “unity and coherence.”
Despite this, Khamenei has yet to appear publicly. There are still high levels of interest and speculation regarding his ability to wield substantive power or whether power struggles resulting from severe injuries are rendering him politically powerless.