Iran Names Rezaei to Dual National Security Roles

In a significant consolidation of power within Iran’s security establishment, President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday appointed Mohsen Rezaei as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).

Simultaneously, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei named Rezaei as his personal representative to the council, placing two of the country's most vital security posts in the hands of a single figure.

The Supreme National Security Council serves as Iran’s primary decision-making body for foreign policy and national defense, making the secretary position one of the most influential roles in the regime. Rezaei’s dual appointment signals a potential shift toward a more hardline military posture at a sensitive juncture for Tehran.

Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader (Photo: Arab Social Networks)

Hardline Military Background

In an official decree, Khamenei cited Rezaei’s extensive military background, writing, "Given your valuable experience, I appoint you, as one of the pioneers of the glorious era of the eight years of sacred defense, as my representative in the Supreme National Security Council".

The phrase "sacred defense" refers to the 1980s Iran-Iraq War, during which Rezaei commanded the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Rezaei, who recently served as an advisor to Mojtaba Khamenei, is widely regarded as one of the most hawkish figures in Iran's security apparatus.

Iranian boats on the Strait (Photo: IRNA)

Rising Regional Tensions

The moves come amid heightened friction with Washington over strategic shipping lanes and stalled nuclear talks. Reports indicate the U.S. administration is weighing options regarding the Strait of Hormuz, where Iranian posturing remains a key leverage point.

Rezaei has repeatedly emphasized the strategic weight of the waterway over Tehran's nuclear capabilities, previously declaring that "this strategic passage is more important than dozens of atomic bombs", while warning that "Iran will not stand idly by if the U.S. does not change its behavior".