By Kevin Akor
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (chatnewstv.com) — Iran on Sunday appointed veteran security official Ahmad Vahidi as the new commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, state media reported, following the killing of several senior military leaders in U.S.-Israeli strikes a day earlier.
Vahidi, a former defense minister and interior minister, replaces Mohammad Pakpour, who Iranian officials said was among commanders killed Saturday as Israel targeted leadership and security sites across Iran.
Iranian outlets said the appointment was approved by the country’s top leadership amid an escalating conflict with Israel and the United States after the reported death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The United States has sanctioned Vahidi over alleged involvement in Iran’s crackdown on protests, including the use of lethal force by security services during nationwide demonstrations in 2022.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iran’s elite military and ideological force, plays a central role in the country’s regional operations and domestic security. The rapid leadership change underscores Tehran’s effort to maintain command continuity after what officials described as unprecedented losses among senior commanders.
