Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has appointed former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Mohsen Rezaei as his military adviser, according to reports by Sabereen News, a media outlet affiliated with pro-Iranian militias in Iraq.
Rezaei, a long-time figure in Iran's political and military establishment, has previously led the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from 1981 to 1997 after being appointed by Iran's first Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini at the age of 27.
Who Is Mohsen Rezaei?
Born on September 1, 1954, in Masjed Soleiman, Rezaei, according to media reports, moved to Tehran in the mid-1970s to study mechanical engineering and became involved with Islamist revolutionary groups ahead of the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
Following the revolution, he was among the early members involved in forming the IRGC's intelligence and political structures. Between 1979 and 1981, he helped establish the Guards' political intelligence unit before rising rapidly through the ranks.
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Khomeini appointed him commander-in-chief of the IRGC in 1981 during the Iran–Iraq War. Rezaei remained in the post until 1997, making him one of the longest-serving commanders in the organization's history.
Political Career And Roles
After stepping down from the IRGC, Rezaei transitioned into politics and policy roles. Since 1997, he has served as secretary and member of Iran's Expediency Discernment Council, a powerful body that advises the country's top leadership.
According to local Iranian media, Rezaei has also run multiple times for the Iranian presidency—in 2005, 2009, 2013 and 2021—but failed to secure victory in each attempt.
Sanctions And Controversies
Rezaei has long been a controversial figure internationally. In January 2020, the United States Department of the Treasury placed him on its sanctions list for what it described as supporting the Iranian government's destabilizing activities.
He has also faced accusations tied to events during the Iran-Iraq war and other regional incidents, though Tehran has repeatedly rejected such allegations.
Early Roles In Revolutionary State
Over the decades, Rezaei, according to Iranian media, has held several influential posts within Iran's security and political institutions, including:
- Member of Ruhollah Khomeini's security team in 1979
- Member of the IRGC statute drafting board
- Founding commander of the IRGC Political Intelligence Unit (1979–1981)
- Commander of the IRGC (1981–1997)
- Commander of the Khatam-ol-Anbiya operational headquarters (1988–1989)
- Member and secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council since 1997
The latest appointment places Rezaei back in a strategic advisory role at a time of heightened political and security tensions around Iran.
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