Iran Appoints Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr as New Security Chief Following Assassination of Predecessor
Veteran IRGC commander named secretary of Supreme National Security Council with supreme leader’s approval amid escalating regional conflict
TEHRAN — March 24, 2026 — Iran has appointed Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, a former senior commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as the new secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, replacing Ali Larijani who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on March 17, state media reported on Tuesday, March 24 .
The appointment was announced by Mehdi Tabatabai, the Iranian president’s deputy for communications and information, in a post on X on Tuesday, March 24 . According to Iranian state television, Zolghadr was appointed with the approval and consent of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei and by decree of President Masoud Pezeshkian .
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Zolghadr, a veteran commander of the IRGC, previously served as secretary of Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council, a key body that advises the country’s supreme leadership . He brings decades of experience across Iran’s military, security, and judicial institutions to the post at a critical juncture in the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel .
Who Is Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr?
Zolghadr is a brigadier general and former Revolutionary Guards commander with extensive experience in Iran’s security apparatus . According to Iranian media reports, he previously served as deputy chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces for Basij affairs and held senior positions in the judiciary for nearly a decade .
In the late 1980s, Zolghadr served for eight years as head of the IRGC Joint Staff during the presidency of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, according to PressTV. He then spent another eight years as deputy commander-in-chief of the IRGC .
Zolghadr previously served as deputy interior minister for security affairs during the presidency of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and later worked in the judiciary as deputy for strategic, societal security and crime prevention affairs . Since 2022, he has served as secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council, an assembly that assists in resolving issues between parliament and the Guardian Council of Shi’ite clerical bodies and jurists .
Predecessor Killed in Israeli Strike
The appointment follows the assassination of Ali Larijani, who had served as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council since August 2025 . Larijani was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Tehran on March 17, according to Iranian officials, marking one of the most significant losses for Iran’s regime since the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint US-Israeli strikes on February 28 .
Israel’s military confirmed the strike, with the Israel Defense Forces stating on X that Larijani was “the regime’s effective leader” and a close associate of the late Supreme Leader . Following Khamenei’s death, Larijani played a key role alongside a three-member transitional council that took charge of governing Iran during the crisis .
Just 24 hours after the US-Israeli airstrikes that killed Khamenei, Larijani had appeared on state television with a defiant message. “America and the Zionist regime have set the heart of the Iranian nation ablaze,” he wrote on social media. “We will burn their hearts. We will make the Zionist criminals and the shameless Americans regret their actions” .
Escalating Regional Conflict
Zolghadr assumes his new role amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing military operations involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. The conflict began on February 28, 2026, when the United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran, killing Khamenei and multiple senior military commanders .
Iran has retaliated with waves of drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, as well as locations in Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states hosting US military forces . On Tuesday, March 24, the IRGC announced its 78th wave of retaliatory strikes under Operation True Promise 4, claiming to target Israeli sites including Dimona—which hosts Israel’s nuclear reactor—Tel Aviv, and Eilat, as well as US military bases in the region .
The IRGC described the latest phase of the operation as a “significant development” featuring missiles raining down on enemy targets . The statement said targets in Eilat, Dimona, and northern Tel Aviv were struck using Emad and multi-warhead Qadr missile systems along with attack drones .
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Diplomatic Uncertainty
Despite claims from US President Donald Trump about ongoing talks with Iran, Iranian officials have publicly denied any direct negotiations. An unnamed senior security official told Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency that “from the beginning of the war until today, messages have been sent to Tehran from some mediators, the clear answer of which has been that we will continue to defend until we achieve the necessary deterrence” .
The Iranian Parliament’s national security and foreign policy committee has urged caution, emphasizing the need for vigilance amid external pressures and ongoing hostilities . Several countries, including Pakistan, have offered to host potential talks involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, but an Israeli official reportedly stated that a deal to end the conflict “does not appear to be tangible at this moment” .
Leadership Transition Amid Crisis
The appointment of Zolghadr is seen as a critical move to maintain continuity in Iran’s security strategy during a volatile period. According to insiders cited by Iranian media, he brings extensive experience across Iran’s military, security, and judicial institutions to the post at a critical juncture .
The Supreme National Security Council, headed by President Pezeshkian, is responsible for managing Iran’s security and foreign policy. It includes top military, intelligence, and government officials, though final decisions require approval by the supreme leader .
SOURCES / INPUTS
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