Iran has appointed Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr as Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, replacing Ali Larijani. A veteran IRGC commander, Zolqadr brings decades of military and judicial experience. His appointment, endorsed by Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, comes amid ongoing conflict and rising regional tensions.

Iran has appointed veteran military commander and strategist Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr as the new Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), a key body responsible for shaping the country’s security and foreign policy.

The announcement was made by Seyyed Mehdi Tabatabai, Deputy for Communications at the Iranian President’s Office, via a post on X. Zolqadr’s appointment comes through a direct presidential decree, endorsed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei.

He replaces Ali Larijani, who was reportedly killed in a recent Israeli-American strike and had been serving as SNSC Secretary since August 2025.

Zolqadr’s elevation comes at a critical time, as Iran continues to grapple with an ongoing conflict in the region. A seasoned figure within Iran’s security establishment, he has decades of experience across military, judicial and strategic domains.