The General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces has announced a series of new appointments affecting several prominent leadership positions in the military. These changes, mandated by Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, come at a time of escalating U.S.-Iran confrontations in the region.
Under the new decrees, Major General Ali Abdullahi has been appointed as the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, while Brigadier General Kioumars Heydari has been appointed as the Deputy Chief of the General Staff.
In the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Ahmad Vahidi has been promoted to the rank of Major General and appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC. Major General Mostafa Izadi has taken on the role of Deputy Commander-in-Chief.
The changes also affect the IRGC Navy, which will be led by Rear Admiral Ali Azmaei, while Hossein Taeb has been appointed head of the Organization for Mobilization of the Oppressed.
These decisions mark one of the most extensive leadership reshuffles within the Iranian military in recent times and hold additional significance given their timing amidst heightened U.S.-Iran tensions and expanding military confrontations in the Middle East.
Ali Abdullahi is recognized as a key figure in the Iranian military, having served as the Deputy Chief of the General Staff for Coordination Affairs between 2016 and 2025, before leading the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which plays a pivotal role in coordinating Iran's military operations.
Ahmad Vahidi previously held the position of Deputy Commander of the IRGC since December 2025, before taking on the leadership role from Mohammad Pakpour. Vahidi also served as Iran's Interior Minister from 2021 to 2024.
The new appointments place a group of leaders at the helm of Iran's military establishment during a very sensitive period, as regional tensions persist and confrontations with the United States escalate.