Archive · 10 Aug 2026
Iran appoints Mohsen Rezaei as top security council secretary
Iran is a country in the Middle East with a special group called the Supreme National Security Council, which helps plan the country's safety and relationships with other countries.
The group's secretary is a very important job, and Iran just chose a new person for it: Mohsen Rezaei, a 71-year-old who used to command the powerful Revolutionary Guards.
The old secretary, Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr, only had the job for a short time and will now work as an adviser.
Nobody has said why the secretary was changed.
Meanwhile, Iran has been at war with the United States and Israel for five months, and the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow sea passage, has been almost completely closed.
Iran's foreign minister says Iran and Oman are very close to agreeing on a new shipping route through the strait.
But Iran says the route could only reopen if other conditions are met, such as the United States paying compensation to Iran.
So this story is about a big leadership change in Iran and the country's struggles with shipping during wartime.
Mohsen Rezaei, 71, a former Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps commander, was appointed secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).
The appointment was announced late on Sunday by President Masoud Pezeshkian's deputy director of communications, with no reason given for the change.
He replaces Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr, who had held the post only since late March after Ali Larijani was killed in an air strike during the war between Iran and the U.S. and Israel.
Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei also appointed Rezaei as his representative on the SNSC, citing his 'valuable experiences,' and named Zolqadr as his political adviser.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Iran and Oman were 'very close' to an agreement on a new Strait of Hormuz shipping route, contingent on conditions including U.S. compensation to Iran.
- Who
- Mohsen Rezaei, former commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, appointed by the office of President Masoud Pezeshkian and Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
- What
- Iran changed the secretary of its Supreme National Security Council, elevating Rezaei to the post that coordinates the country's security and foreign policy.
- When
- The appointment was announced late on Sunday and reported on August 10.
- Where
- Iran; the appointment was announced via the president's office and reported from Dubai.
- Why
- No official reason was given for the change; a decree by Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei cited Rezaei's 'valuable experiences,' including his role during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war.
- New SNSC Secretary
- Mohsen Rezaei
- Age
- 71
- Predecessor
- Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr (served since late March)
- Announced By
- President Masoud Pezeshkian's deputy director of communications
- Supreme Leader's Decree
- Appointed Rezaei as his SNSC representative; named Zolqadr as his political adviser
- Rezaei's Past Roles
- IRGC commander (1981-1997); Expediency Discernment Council secretary; vice president for economic affairs (2021-2023)
- Related Development
- Iran and Oman 'very close' to agreement on a new Strait of Hormuz shipping route
- Previous Secretary's Death
- Ali Larijani killed in an air strike during the Iran-U.S.-Israel war
