Iran’s Commander-in-Chief has appointed six veteran commanders to senior military positions, reshaping key leadership posts across the armed forces.
The appointments place experienced commanders in the General Staff, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and Basij Organization. Officials said the changes aim to strengthen defense capabilities, operational readiness, and senior management across Iran’s military structure.
Major General Ali Abdollahi will serve as Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces. Meanwhile, Brigadier General Kioumars Heydari will become Deputy Chief of the General Staff.
Abdollahi has held senior positions across the IRGC, police forces, Interior Ministry, and General Staff. His previous responsibilities included operational, logistical, administrative, and security roles.
Heydari spent much of his career with the Army Ground Forces and commanded the force since 2016. During his tenure, he focused on border defense, military readiness, equipment development, and operational capabilities.
The changes also elevate Major General Ahmad Vahidi to Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC. Vahidi previously commanded the Quds Force during the 1990s and later served as Defense Minister.
His career also includes senior positions within defense institutions and strategic organizations. His promotion brings extensive military and administrative experience to the IRGC’s top command.
Major General Mostafa Izadi has also received a new senior role as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC. Izadi previously held important operational and strategic positions within the military establishment.
Furthermore, Rear Admiral Ali Ozmaei has become Commander of the IRGC Navy. His career includes command responsibilities across the Persian Gulf and southern operational regions.
Ozmaei previously commanded the IRGC Navy’s Fifth Region and served as deputy commander. His appointment therefore places an experienced naval officer at the force’s highest operational level.
Meanwhile, Hojjatoleslam Hossein Taeb has returned to a major organizational position as President of the Basij Organization. Taeb previously commanded the Basij and led the IRGC Intelligence Organization for more than a decade.
Overall, the appointments emphasize commanders with decades of military, security, operational, and administrative experience. They also signal continued reliance on experienced leadership across Iran’s defense institutions.
The changes could influence military coordination, operational planning, internal security, and command structures in the coming period. Moreover, the appointments come as Iran faces continuing regional security pressures and growing demands for military readiness.
The new leadership teams are expected to strengthen coordination, improve preparedness, and manage emerging defense challenges. Their combined experience could also shape future decisions across Iran’s military and security institutions.