Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr
Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr (Persian: محمدباقر ذوالقدر) is an Iranian retired military commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who currently serves as the Secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council. Also he is currently member of the Expediency Discernment Council.
Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1954 or 1955 (age 68–69)[1] Fasa, Pahlavi Iran |
| Allegiance | Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps |
| Years of service | 1979–2010 |
| Rank | Brigadier general |
| Commands held | Joint Staff |
| Battles/wars | Iran–Iraq War |
| Member of Expediency Discernment Council | |
| Assumed office 20 September 2022 | |
| Appointed by | Ali Khamenei |
| Chairman | Sadeq Larijani |
| Secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council | |
| Assumed office 19 September 2021 | |
| Appointed by | Sadeq Larijani |
| Chairman | Sadeq Larijani |
| Preceded by | Mohsen Rezaee |
He was formerly the deputy for strategic, societal–security and crime prevention affairs in the Judicial system of Iran.[2] He is also a former Deputy Interior Minister for Security Affairs under Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.[3]
Military career edit
In the early 1980s, Zolghadr co-headed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' educational division.[4] He later served as the commander of IRGC Irregular Warfare Headquarters, as well as Ramazan Headquarters.[2] Zolghadr served as the deputy commander of the IRGC.[3] In 2007, Zolghadr was appointed as the deputy chief of general staff of Iranian Armed Forces for Basij-related affairs.[5]
Political activity edit
Following the Iranian Revolution, Zolghadr joined the Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization and belonged to its right-wing faction,[6] having previously been a member of Mansouroun guerrilla organization along with later fellow IRGC servicemen Rezaei, Shamkhani and Rashid.[7] He is reportedly "one of the founders" of Ansar-e Hezbollah.[3]
Judicial career edit
Zolghadr was appointed as the deputy Judiciary chief for strategic affairs on 14 May 2012,[8] having previously served as the advisor to the Chief Justice Sadeq Larijani since 2010.[9]
References edit
- ^ "Revolutionary Guardsman Wins Top Iran Security Post", Agence France Presse, 1 December 2005, retrieved 1 March 2017 – via Arab News
- ^ a b Ali Alfoneh (29 March 2012). "Generational change in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force: Brigadier General Iraj Masjedi". Middle Eastern Outlook. Retrieved 11 June 2017 – via American Enterprise Institute.
- ^ a b c Frederic Wehrey; Jerrold D Green; Brian Nichiporuk; Alireza Nader; Lydia Hansell (31 December 2008). . Rand Corporation. p. 104. ISBN 978-0-8330-4680-2. Archived from the original on August 6, 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- ^ Saeed Aganji (24 February 2015), "IRGC to reopen its own high schools", Al-Monitor, retrieved 1 March 2017
- ^ "Leader Appoints Deputy Chief of General Staff of Iranian Armed Forces for Basij-Related Affairs". Khamenei.ir. 11 December 2007. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
- ^ Muhammad Sahimi (12 May 2009). "The Political Groups". Tehran Bureau. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
- ^ Alfoneh, Ali (2013), Iran Unveiled: How the Revolutionary Guards Is Transforming Iran from Theocracy into Military Dictatorship, AEI Press, pp. 8–10
- ^ "Iranian judiciary chief appoints new Judicial officials", Mehr News Agency, 14 May 2012, retrieved 1 March 2017 – via OANA
- ^ Massoumeh Torfeh (8 January 2010), "Iran's judiciary takes a military colour", Guardian, retrieved 1 March 2017