Mohsen Rezaei, the former commander-in-chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has been appointed secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, the country’s top security body. The appointment comes as Iran remains engaged in talks over the Strait of Hormuz amid its months-long conflict with the United States and Israel.
Rezaei replaces Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, who was appointed political adviser to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. The post was previously held by Ali Larijani, who was assassinated in a US-Israeli strike in March, according to the supplied Al Jazeera report.
A military figure at the centre of policy
Rezaei, 71, led the IRGC from 1981 to 1997, including during the Iran-Iraq War, known in Iran as the “Sacred Defence”. He later served on the Expediency Discernment Council, which resolves disputes between parliament and the Guardian Council over legislation.
Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, announced the appointment on Sunday evening, while Khamenei issued a decree naming Rezaei as his representative on the Supreme National Security Council. The decree highlighted his experience and his role during the Sacred Defence era.
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Why the Strait of Hormuz is central
The Supreme National Security Council brings together strategic considerations from the presidency, foreign ministry, armed forces and security agencies. Its secretary therefore has significance beyond the council’s administrative work, particularly during war and strained negotiations with Washington.
Rezaei has placed strong emphasis on Iran retaining control of the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway through which a fifth of global oil and gas passes. In July, he said control of the strait was worth more than “dozens of atomic bombs”. Last week, he warned the United States of serious risks and casualties if its blockade of Iranian ports continued.
Iran imposed a blockade on the strait in response to the US-Israel war launched in February, while the United States imposed a naval blockade to increase economic pressure on Tehran, the source reported.
More context: UK and France remain cautious on Strait of Hormuz coalition.
Two readings of what comes next
Analysts cited by Al Jazeera offered contrasting interpretations. One view is that appointing a former IRGC chief shows military and security concerns are receiving greater weight during the conflict. Another is that Rezaei’s record could give the leadership domestic cover to pursue a negotiated settlement, because a former senior military commander would be less exposed to accusations of weakness or surrendering Iran’s security interests.
Mashallah Shamsolvaezin, an Iranian journalist and political analyst, said Rezaei could help make decisions acceptable to hardline factions and support negotiations with the United States. Rezaei backed Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf in the 2024 presidential election, placing him closer to the conservative camp associated with the parliament speaker than to the faction linked to Saeed Jalili, although the source cautioned that this does not make him moderate or establish permanent alliances.
A possible hardening of Iran’s position
International relations professor Mohsen Farkhani interpreted the appointment more as evidence of a shift in Iran’s security doctrine. He linked it to Tehran’s accusations that Washington violated the June Memorandum of Understanding and to what he described as diplomacy’s failure to contain the conflict.
Also read: Eight shipping associations warn against Strait of Hormuz fees.
Farkhani said Rezaei’s military experience could align with an approach centred on offensive deterrence, traditional warfare and long-term confrontation alongside asymmetric methods. He expects Iran to take less flexible positions in possible negotiations and disputes over sovereignty in the Strait of Hormuz. He also said Rezaei alone cannot change Iran’s decision-making structure: the council coordinates institutions within defined parameters, under the supreme leader’s supervision and final decisions.
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