Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has appointed Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour as the new IRGC Commander following the death of Major General Hossein Salami in an unprovoked Israeli airstrike on June 13.
Salami, who had served as IRGC Commander since 2019, was a key figure in Iran’s defense and regional strategy. His sudden death marks a major shift within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, one of Iran’s most powerful military organizations. The IRGC is responsible for both internal security and external military operations, playing a central role in Iran’s foreign policy.
The announcement was made through a formal decree issued by the office of the Supreme Leader and broadcast on state media. The appointment comes amid soaring tensions in the region after Israel’s sweeping aerial offensive targeted multiple military and nuclear sites in Iran, reportedly killing senior commanders and scientists.
Brigadier General Pakpour previously led the IRGC’s Ground Forces and has decades of military experience. He is known for his hardline stance and has been directly involved in operations in Syria and Iraq. His appointment as IRGC Commander is expected to ensure continuity in the force’s strategic direction.
“Given your commitment, experience, and understanding of the strategic needs of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, I hereby appoint you as the new IRGC Commander,” Ayatollah Khamenei said in the statement.
Khamenei’s swift decision to fill the position shows the importance of maintaining stability within the IRGC. In his statement, he praised Pakpour for his loyalty and competence, urging him to “strengthen the IRGC’s readiness and protect Iran’s sovereignty.”
The move comes less than 24 hours after Iranian state media confirmed the martyrdom of General Hossein Salami, who led the elite force since 2019 and was widely seen as a symbol of Iran’s military resistance doctrine. Salami’s death, alongside other senior officials including Major General Gholam Ali Rashid and nuclear scientist Dr. Fereydoon Abbasi, marked one of the most serious blows to Iran’s security establishment in recent memory.
Moreover, following the martyrdom of Major General Gholam Ali Rashid, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution awarded the rank of Major General to Brigadier General Ali Shadmani and appointed him as the new commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters.
