Iran names Ahmad Vahidi new IRGC chief amid escalating US, Israel attack - Who is he?

Iran has reportedly appointed Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi as the new commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), according to Iranian media, as Tehran signals a major escalation following US-Israeli strikes that have shaken the country’s political and military leadership.

The reported appointment comes amid mounting tensions across the Middle East, with Iranian officials warning of large-scale retaliation and state media carrying statements suggesting a widening confrontation involving Israel and American military assets in the region.

Iranian authorities have not yet issued a detailed official decree publicly outlining the appointment, but the reported move follows significant disruption within Iran’s command structure after recent strikes targeting senior military and political figures.

The IRGC, an elite force tasked with protecting the Islamic Republic and projecting Iranian influence abroad, plays a central role in Tehran’s security strategy and regional operations.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it plans to launch what it described as the “most massive and powerful offensive operation in the history of the Islamic Republic,” targeting Israel and US military bases across the region.

The declaration signals a potential expansion of hostilities beyond direct exchanges, raising concerns among regional governments and global markets about the risk of broader conflict.

The reported strike follows heightened drone and missile activity across the Gulf, underscoring how rapidly the conflict may be spreading beyond primary theatres of confrontation.

The statement described the supreme leader as a “devout scholar, the standard-bearer of the Islamic Revolution’s martyrs, and the rightful deputy of Imam al-Mahdi.”

The language reflects the ideological framing often used by Iranian authorities when referring to senior figures killed in conflict, while also reinforcing calls for national mobilisation.

A founding member of the IRGC, Vahidi previously commanded the Quds Force — the external operations arm responsible for Iran’s regional military networks — and later served as defence minister. Known for his deep ties to Iran’s security apparatus, he has played a role in shaping Tehran’s asymmetric warfare doctrine and regional alliances.

His reported elevation to commander-in-chief would place him at the centre of Iran’s military response during one of the most volatile moments in the Islamic Republic’s history.

The IRGC’s influence extends far beyond conventional military operations, encompassing missile programmes, intelligence networks and powerful economic holdings within Iran.

A leadership change at its helm therefore carries implications not only for battlefield strategy but also for Iran’s internal political balance.