Why did Iran appoint former IRGC chief Mohsen Rezaei to top security post? Abas Aslani explains

Iran's former Revolutionary Guards commander-in-chief Mohsen Rezaei has been named secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, while President Masoud Pezeshkian has held a rare meeting with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen in public since succeeding his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, following his assassination at the start of the war on February 28. The Iranian presidency announced on Sunday that Rezaei, 71, would replace Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr as secretary of the country's top national security body. In an interview with Al Jazeera, senior research fellow Abas Aslani said Rezaei's appointment is significant because of his experience in the military, economy and politics, and his ability to act as a “balancing actor” between different factions. Aslani said Rezaei is considered “relatively moderate” and has good relations with the Supreme Leader, making him well suited to bridge conservatives and reformists. He said the appointment does not signal a significant change in Iranian foreign policy but is instead aimed at filling a gap after the assassination of the previous top security official, Ali Larijani. Aslani added that more appointments may follow as Iran fills vacancies left by assassinated military commanders.

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