Iran moved quickly Tuesday to install a new top security official, appointing Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council following the killing of Ali Larijani in last week’s strike.
The announcement, shared by the Iranian president’s deputy of communications on X, marks one of Tehran’s most significant leadership reshuffles in the wake of escalating turmoil at the highest levels of government.
Zolqadr, a longtime insider with deep roots in Iran’s security establishment, steps into a position that sits at the center of the country’s most critical decisions. A former commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, he is widely viewed as a hardline figure with decades of experience across multiple pillars of the regime.
His appointment comes at a moment when Iran’s leadership is under intense pressure, both internally and across the region. By elevating a figure closely tied to the Revolutionary Guard and the broader security apparatus, Tehran appears to be signaling a focus on continuity, discipline and control following a series of high-profile losses.
The Supreme National Security Council plays a central role in shaping Iran’s military and foreign policy strategy. Chaired by President Masoud Pezeshkian, the council includes senior officials from across the government, military and intelligence sectors. While it helps coordinate key decisions, ultimate authority still rests with the country’s supreme leader.