Ahmad Vahidi Appointed Head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps

Following an Israeli airstrike that killed Gen. Hossein Salami, Iran has appointed Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi as the new commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, despite his controversial past linked to human rights violations and a significant terrorist attack.

On June 15, 2025, at 10:07 a.m. ET, Iran announced the appointment of Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi as the new head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (I.R.G.C.), following the death of Gen. Hossein Salami in an Israeli airstrike. Vahidi's selection raises eyebrows due to his history of alleged involvement in serious crimes, including the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires that resulted in 85 fatalities and hundreds of injuries. Authorities in Argentina have issued arrest warrants for him and four other Iranian officials, asserting they were heavily involved in the attack's planning and execution. Interpol subsequently released a Red Notice for Vahidi in 2007.

Born in Shiraz in 1958, Vahidi joined the I.R.G.C. in the wake of the Iranian revolution in 1979 while pursuing electronic engineering. He later earned a Ph.D. in strategic studies and took on various significant roles during the Iran-Iraq War that began in 1980. Notably, he led the I.R.G.C.'s elite Quds Force from 1988 to 1998, which handles foreign operations and intelligence activities.

Throughout his career, Vahidi has held various ministerial positions, including deputy defense minister from 2005 and Iran's defense minister from 2009 to 2013, as well as serving as the interior minister until August of last year. His track record has led to sanctions imposed on him by the United States, European Union, Canada, and the UK due to human rights violations. As Iran shifts leadership within this pivotal military institution, Vahidi's controversial past continues to loom large over his new role.