According to reports on August 9, Iran’s Supreme Leader issued a decree appointing Mohsen Rezaei as the new secretary of the country’s Supreme National Security Council.
The Supreme Leader highlighted Rezaei’s prior role as commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, noting his extensive military leadership experience. “Given your invaluable experience, particularly as one of the pioneers during the eight-year ‘Sacred Defense’ period, I hereby appoint you as my representative on the Supreme National Security Council, hoping you will fulfill this important duty with excellence,” the decree stated.
The “Sacred Defense” period refers to the Iran-Iraq War from 1980 to 1988. Public records indicate that Rezaei served as commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps from 1981 to 1997, then as secretary of Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council from 1997 to 2021, and later as vice president for economic affairs from 2021 to 2023.
Mohsen Rezaei IC photo
The Supreme Leader also announced that the outgoing secretary, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, would transition to a role as his political advisor, praising Zolghadr’s previous contributions.
Mehdi Tabatabaei, deputy director of the presidential office for news and communications affairs, later confirmed the appointment on social media, stating that President Pezeshkian had formally appointed Rezaei as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.
The Supreme National Security Council is responsible for coordinating security and foreign policy, with members including senior military, intelligence, and government officials, as well as the Supreme Leader’s representative.