In the aftermath of U.S.-Israeli airstrikes that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and IRGC Commander Mohammad Pakpour, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has named Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi as its new Commander-in-Chief, as reported by Al-Jazeera English.
According to a report by Republicworld, Iranian state-linked media and reports from Mehr News Agency confirmed the appointment Sunday, positioning the seasoned strategist to lead the elite force amid escalating conflict and a deepening leadership crisis.
Vahidi, born Vahid Shahcheraghi in 1958, brings decades of experience in Iran’s security apparatus.
He served as the first commander of the elite Quds Force (IRGC’s extraterritorial operations branch) from 1988 to 1998, overseeing proxy networks and unconventional warfare.
He later held key civilian posts: Minister of Defense (2009–2013) under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Minister of Interior (2021–2024) under Ebrahim Raisi, where he directed internal security forces during major protests.
In December 2025, Khamenei appointed him deputy IRGC commander-in-chief, a role that positioned him for rapid elevation after Pakpour’s death in the February 28 strikes.
Vahidi faces an INTERPOL Red Notice for his alleged role in the 1994 AMIA bombing in Buenos Aires, which killed 85 people—charges Iran denies. He is sanctioned by the U.S., EU, UK, and Canada for human rights abuses, including oversight of crackdowns on dissent.
The appointment comes as Iran observes a 40-day mourning period for Khamenei, with crowds continuing anti-U.S. and anti-Israel demonstrations. Retaliatory missile strikes persist, targeting regional U.S. and Israeli assets.
A temporary leadership council, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, manages day-to-day affairs while the Assembly of Experts deliberates on a supreme leader successor—no frontrunner has emerged, fueling speculation of IRGC dominance in the transition.
Analysts view Vahidi’s rise as a signal of regime continuity through military hardliners, aiming to stabilize the IRGC amid losses and vows of “severe vengeance… Discover More
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