Iran has carried out senior leadership changes in its military institutions. New figures have been appointed to the command structures of the General Staff, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the IRGC Navy and the volunteer mobilization organization Basij.
Major General Ali Abdollahi, who comes from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was appointed chief of staff. Abdollahi previously served as deputy coordinator of the General Staff and commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters.
The new command team
- Brigadier General Kioumars Heidari became deputy chief of staff.
- Major General Ahmad Vahidi was appointed commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
- Major General Mostafa Izadi assumed the role of deputy commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
- Rear Admiral Ali Azmai was appointed commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy.
- Brigadier General Hossein Taeb was appointed commander of the Basij.
Kioumars Heidari, who comes from the Artesh, served as commander of the Ground Forces from 2016 to 2025. Ahmad Vahidi previously worked at the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics and the Interior Ministry, and was promoted from brigadier general to major general with his new appointment.
Mostafa Izadi commanded various Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps units during the Iran-Iraq War. Izadi later held positions at the General Staff responsible for planning, budgeting and strategic affairs.
A significant part of Ali Azmai’s military career was spent around the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. Hossein Taeb served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Intelligence Organization from 2009 to 2022; he had previously also served as commander and deputy commander of the Basij.
Iran’s military command structure
Iran’s military structure includes the General Staff, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Artesh, known as the regular army, and the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics, all under the country’s leadership. Although the areas of responsibility of these institutions overlap in some respects, ultimate political and military authority is concentrated in the leadership.
The General Staff coordinates between the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Artesh and organizes the implementation of military plans and strategic decisions. The Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics is responsible for defense procurement, logistics, research and development, and the management of the defense industry.
The roles of the IRGC and the Artesh
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is associated with the security of the system, strategic missile and unmanned aerial vehicle capabilities, asymmetric warfare, and military and intelligence activities outside the country. Its structure includes ground, naval and aerospace forces, as well as the Quds Force and the Basij.
The Artesh is defined as the regular army focused on protecting the country’s territorial integrity, borders and airspace. Comprising ground, air, naval and air defense forces, the Artesh is responsible for conventional defense and preparations for large-scale war scenarios.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy operates around the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. The Artesh Navy focuses on more traditional naval warfare missions; its area of operations includes the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, the Caspian Sea and open waters.
Management of missile and UAV capabilities
A significant portion of Iran’s ballistic and cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicle systems is under the control of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force. The Iranian administration presents this capability as one of the main elements of its regional deterrence strategy.
The Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics plays a role in the development, production and procurement of numerous weapons systems and military platforms used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Artesh. In missile systems, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is responsible for operational use, while defense industry organizations are responsible for development and production.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stands out in Iran’s military command structure because of its influence within the political and security system. Companies affiliated with the organization operate in transportation, energy, construction, telecommunications and finance, while the Artesh does not have a comparable economic and political structure.
