Who Is  Ahmad Vahidi and Why Is He Important Now?

News Desk 

Islamabad: Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi has been appointed the new commander of the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), taking charge at a time when Iran faces heightened tensions and an ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel.

According to reports, the recent war and attacks have led to the deaths of several senior Iranian military leaders, while more than 1,000 people have reportedly been killed and several cities have suffered heavy damage.

Ahmad Vahidi has longstanding ties with the IRGC, dating back to its early years. During the 1980s, he held various intelligence and military roles within the organization.

Iranian state media say he also served as the head of the IRGC’s elite Quds Force from 1988 to 1997. The position was later held by renowned commander Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a US drone strike in 2020.

In December, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei appointed Vahidi as deputy head of the IRGC. He has also served as deputy chief of the Iranian army.

Beyond his military career, Vahidi has held several key political positions. He served as defense minister under former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and later as interior minister in the government of President Ebrahim Raisi.

However, Vahidi has also faced international accusations. Interpol issued a red notice against him in connection with the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, which killed 85 people. Iran has rejected the allegations as baseless.

The United States and the European Union have also imposed sanctions on Vahidi over his alleged role in the government’s response to protests in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022.

Defense analysts say his appointment comes at a critical moment for Iran’s military leadership, as he will be tasked with leading the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps during a period of intense regional conflict and, potentially, a full-scale war scenario.