Iran's supreme leader appoints six senior military commanders

On August 10, 2026, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, announced the appointment of six senior military commanders. The move formalizes a command structure that had been operating without official decrees for several months. The restructuring follows the death of Lieutenant General Mousavi, who the leadership attributes to Zionist-American forces.

Major General Ali Abdollahi was appointed Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, with Brigadier General Kiumars Heydari named his deputy. Additionally, former Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi was appointed to lead the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), supported by deputy Mostafa Izadi. Other key appointments include Rear Admiral Ali Azmaei as head of the IRGC Navy and Hossein Taeb, former head of IRGC intelligence, as the new commander of the Basij militia.

While the appointments represent a significant shift in the security apparatus, reports from the opposition network Iran International suggest that several critical government and security positions remain vacant. The leadership aims to stabilize the military hierarchy following the ongoing tensions in the region.