Khamenei tightens grip on Iran security council with hard-line former IRGC chief

Iran appoints former IRGC commander Mohsen Rezaei to lead top security council

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian appointed Mohsen Rezaei, former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and close ally of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, as secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council. Rezaei replaces Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr and has recently emphasized Iran's strategic control over the Strait of Hormuz.