Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran

Tehran, Mar 25: Iran named Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr as the new secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, following the reported death of Ali Larijani in an Israeli strike last week.

According to Iranian officials, the appointment was made by President Masoud Pezeshkian with the approval of the country’s supreme leadership, Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei.

Zolqadr brings extensive experience from across Iran’s military and political system. A longtime member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), he previously served as Secretary of the Expediency Council. His career includes key roles such as Deputy Chief of the Armed Forces General Staff for Basij affairs and senior positions within the judiciary.

During the late 1980s, under then-President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Zolqadr led the IRGC Joint Staff for eight years. He later went on to serve another eight years as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC, building a reputation as an influential figure in Iran’s security establishment.

The leadership change comes amid heightened tensions after Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that it had killed Larijani in a recent operation. In a statement posted on the social media platform X on March 17, the IDF described Larijani as a senior figure within Iran’s leadership and a close associate of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The IDF further alleged that Larijani had played a key role in Iran’s internal security actions and regional military strategies, including operations linked to tensions with Israel.

Zolqadr’s appointment signals a continuation of Iran’s security leadership amid ongoing regional instability, as the country navigates a sensitive period following the loss of one of its top officials.