Iran has elevated veteran hardliners and figures with long histories in the Islamic Revolution and the Iran-Iraq War to fill critical leadership roles within its military and security apparatus following significant wartime casualties. The reshuffle, which includes appointments across the conventional military, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Basij paramilitary force, and the Supreme National Security Council, has led to concerns among U.S. policymakers about a potential narrowing of room for compromise.
Among the notable appointments is Ahmad Vahidi, who was promoted to major general and formally named commander-in-chief of the IRGC. Vahidi is described as a radical hardliner with alleged connections to past attacks, including the 1983 Beirut bombing and the 1994 Argentina bombing. His past roles include serving as Iran's interior minister, where he oversaw police units involved in the crackdown on 2022 protests.
Another significant appointment is Mohsen Rezaei, who was named secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and Khamenei's representative on the body. Rezaei, a former IRGC commander who led the force for 16 years, including during the Iran-Iraq War, also previously served as secretary of Iran's Expediency Discernment Council and as vice president for economic affairs. Rezaei and Vahidi were among individuals for whom INTERPOL authorized Red Notices in connection with the investigation into the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center in Buenos Aires.
Hossein Taeb, a veteran security official, has been appointed to lead the Basij, the IRGC's volunteer paramilitary force known for its role in suppressing domestic dissent. Taeb's prior leadership of the Basij drew U.S. sanctions, with the Treasury Department stating that forces under his command participated in "beatings, murder, and arbitrary arrests and detentions of peaceful protestors" during the June 2009 election. Taeb's relationship with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei reportedly dates back over four decades.
The appointments also include Ali Abdollahi as chief of staff of the Armed Forces and Kioumars Heydari as deputy chief of staff. Mostafa Izadi was appointed Vahidi's deputy within the IRGC, and Rear Adm. Ali Ozmaei was named commander of the IRGC Navy. Ozmaei's appointment places him in charge of a force critical to Iran's operations in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
Analysts suggest that this reliance on veteran figures, whose careers span decades, indicates a preference for loyalty and institutional memory over the promotion of a new generation of commanders. This pattern has fueled assessments that wartime losses have narrowed the regime's pool of officials considered both experienced and politically trustworthy. The reshuffle is seen by some as less a sign of renewal and more a redistribution of roles among long-serving regime members, potentially leading to a less ideologically diverse decision-making circle.