Iran Appoints IRGC Veteran Mohsen Rezaei as Security Chief Amid War
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei replaced Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr with Mohsen Rezaei as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council on August 9-10, 2026. The reshuffle occurs during an ongoing war with the US/Israel and a crisis over the Strait of Hormuz. Rezaei, a 71-year-old former IRGC commander and hardliner, is seen as consolidating power among conservatives. The change signals a tougher stance toward Washington and internal factional struggles over negotiation strategy.