Iran on Tuesday appointed Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr as the new secretary of the country’s Supreme National Security Council.

He will replace Iran’s Ali Larijani, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike last week.

Zolghadr is a retired Revolutionary Guard Corps commander who had been serving as the secretary of Iran’s Expediency Council. He also served as the Deputy Interior Minister for Security Affairs under Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

He appears on the sanctions list under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1747 due to his involvement in the Iranian regime’s nuclear and missile programs.

Zolghadr served as commander of the “Ramadan Headquarters” within the IRGC’s Quds Force, the unit responsible for operations in Iraq. He was also involved in coordinating with the Basij militia.

Ynet reported that he is known for his opposition to Iranian reformists.

The Supreme National Security Council is responsible for coordinating Iran’s national defense and security policy, and the secretary plays a key role in advising the president and overseeing security, military, and intelligence bodies.

Before his elimination, Larijani served as Iran’s de facto leader.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)