Iran has appointed Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi as the new head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps following the death of his predecessor in a recent airstrike. Vahidi's past is marred by accusations related to the 1994 Buenos Aires bombing and sanctions imposed by various countries for human rights violations.
Ahmad Vahidi Appointed New Head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps
Ahmad Vahidi Appointed New Head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps
Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi takes over leadership of the IRGC following the death of Gen. Hossein Salami in an Israeli airstrike, amidst allegations of involvement in international terrorism.
Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi has been designated as the new commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) after the recent death of Gen. Hossein Salami in an Israeli airstrike. Vahidi's appointment comes at a time of heightened tensions in the region and reflects Iran's ongoing commitment to its defense strategy under the IRGC umbrella.
Outside of Iran, Vahidi is often associated with the 1994 bombing of a Jewish cultural center in Buenos Aires, which tragically resulted in 85 deaths and hundreds of injuries. Argentine prosecutors have accused Vahidi, alongside four other Iranian officials, of being involved in the planning and execution of this attack, leading to an Interpol Red Notice issued in 2007 for his arrest.
Born in 1958 in Shiraz, Vahidi's political journey began during the Iranian Revolution in 1979, while he was an electronic engineering student. He quickly rose through the ranks of the IRGC, where he held significant roles during the Iran-Iraq War, including a decade-long command of the Quds Force, the IRGC unit known for its intelligence operations beyond Iran's borders.
Additionally, Vahidi served as Iran's Minister of Defense from 2009 to 2013 and was the Interior Minister until August 2024. However, his tenure in government has not been without controversy, as multiple countries including the U.S., the European Union, Canada, and the United Kingdom have imposed sanctions on him due to his alleged human rights abuses.
With Vahidi's leadership, the IRGC is likely to continue its influential role in Iranian politics and military strategy, potentially impacting the delicate balance in Middle Eastern geopolitics.
