Iran has appointed Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr as the new secretary of its Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), replacing Ali Larijani, who was killed in recent US-Israeli strikes.
The appointment was confirmed on Tuesday by Iran’s state news agency IRNA, citing the president’s office.
Zolqadr, a veteran commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and a prominent figure in Iran’s hardline political camp, has held several senior security roles in the past.
These include deputy for security at the Interior Ministry, a senior position at the armed forces’ general staff, and adviser to the judiciary chief on crime prevention.
He has also been actively involved in politics, previously heading the electoral headquarters of the Popular Front of Islamic Revolutionary Forces.
Since 2022, he has served as secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council, a key body that mediates disputes between parliament and the Guardian Council.
The SNSC, formally chaired by President Masoud Pezeshkian, plays a central role in coordinating Iran’s national security and foreign policy.
It comprises senior military, intelligence, and government officials, along with representatives of the Supreme Leader, who holds ultimate authority over state affairs.
Zolqadr’s appointment comes at a time of heightened regional tensions following the killing of Larijani, a senior and influential figure in Iran’s security establishment.
