Who is Ahmad Vahidi, the IRGC’s new commander?

News | Israel-Iran conflict Who is Ahmad Vahidi, the IRGC’s new commander? Ahmad Vahidi takes command of Iran's Revolutionary Guards as the country battles a devastating US-Israeli assault Listen to this article | 7 mins Published On 6 Mar 2026 6 Mar 2026 Click here to share on social media Share Save Add Al Jazeera on Google Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi has a job that’s among the most powerful and influential in Iran – and one in which the shadow of death constantly hovers. Vahidi has taken command of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps at a particularly challenging moment, amid a joint US-Israeli war on his country that has killed more than 1,000 people, devastated Iranian cities, and assassinated much of the country’s senior military leadership. Recommended Stories list of 3 items list 1 of 3 Trump voices support for possible Kurdish offensive in Iran list 2 of 3 Why has Hezbollah joined Middle East war? list 3 of 3 Iran fires more missiles, drones across Gulf region as war shows no letup end of list His is a dangerous job. Qassem Soleimani, the long‑time commander of the IRGC’s elite Quds Force, for example, was killed in a US drone strike in 2020 ordered by US President Donald Trump. Mohammad Pakpour, the most recent IRGC chief, was also killed during the opening phase of the joint Israeli-US attacks on February 28. Pakpour had been appointed only after Israel killed his predecessor, Hossein Salami , during the 12-day war in June 2025. This churn at the top of the IRGC underscores the risks attached to one of the most powerful posts in Iran’s military establishment. Now, Vahidi is tasked with a responsibility that even Soleimani, an iconic figure in Iran, never had to embrace: Leading the sword edge of Iran’s military in an actual, full-blown war. Who is Ahmad Vahidi? Vahidi’s appointment as the new IRGC chief isn’t surprising. In December, the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei – who was killed on the opening day of the war, on February 28 – named him dep...