New claims have emerged about the internal political structure of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The most controversial of these claims is the idea that the current commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Ahmad Vahidi, is effectively running the country.
Although the Iranian political system formally consists of the supreme leader, president, and parliament, the real center of power is the IRGC.
SEPAH is a military-political organization that combines army, intelligence, economic empire, and foreign operations structures in the same center.
In the context of recent wars and regional conflicts, the role of the IRGC has further increased. Some sources describe this process as a “militarized governance model.”
Analysts say that as a result of the war launched by the US-Israel coalition on February 28, Iran's religious leadership has been effectively destroyed and replaced by military leadership in the person of the IRGC.
IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi is currently considered the most influential figure among those in office in Iran. According to claims, it was he and his men who pressured the Assembly of Experts to elect Mojtaba Khamenei as the new supreme leader.
According to Modern.az, Ahmad Vahidi has held high positions in Iran's security and military system for many years.
Major General Ahmad Vahidi is the third commander to lead the IRGC since the war began. The two previous commanders – Generals Hossein Salami and Mohammad Pakpour – were killed as a result of the US-Israeli attack.
“The Independent Persian” newspaper also writes that Ahmad Vahidi has effectively become one of the most powerful figures in the Iranian government in the current war situation.
In the context of the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a number of high-ranking military leaders, as well as the serious injury of the new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, a serious power vacuum has arisen in the country. This vacuum has turned IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi into the main decision-making figure.
Nevertheless, General Vahidi has never appeared in public during the recent war. There is almost no visual imagery or information about his activities, and he has only issued one official message. This situation creates a contradiction between his real power and his visible position.
Vahidi was one of the first members of the IRGC, worked in security and intelligence for many years, and is considered one of the key figures who shaped Iran's influence in the region, especially during his leadership of the Quds Force.
Ahmad Vahidi was born on June 27, 1958, in Shiraz, Iran. His real name is Ahmad Shah Cheraghi.
He holds a bachelor's degree in electronics and a master's degree in industrial engineering. He received his doctorate in strategic studies from Imam Sadiq University.
He became famous as the former commander of the Quds Force, which organized attacks against Israelis and Americans. The deadliest attack in this direction occurred in 1994 at the Jewish Cultural Center in Buenos Aires. This attack was the largest mass murder of Jews since the Holocaust. At that time, 85 people died and more than 300 were injured. An investigation conducted by Argentine intelligence agencies and Mossad revealed that Iran was behind the operation, and the organizer of the attack was General Ahmad Vahidi. As a result, Interpol placed Vahidi on its wanted list in 2007.
On November 14, 2022, he was added to the sanctions list of all European Union countries “for serious human rights violations in Iran.”
Ahmad Vahidi served as Minister of Defense during Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's presidency, participating in the development of Iran's missile and military programs. Later, he served as Minister of Interior in the Ebrahim Raisi government and played an important role in domestic security policy.
The elimination of many high-ranking officials and the weakening of structures as a result of the war with the US-Israel coalition further strengthened A. Vahidi's position. According to some estimates, his influence even surpasses that of political figures such as the current speaker of parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
According to analysts, as the war and security crisis continue, the IRGC plays a more dominant role in state administration. In this case, Ahmad Vahidi can influence the decision-making process and guide the political leadership “from the shadows.”
But why doesn't Ahmad Vahidi appear in public?
“The Independent Persian” newspaper writes that the main reason for Vahidi's hiding is most likely related to security. Because when the US-Israel coalition organized attacks against high-ranking IRGC commanders, Vahidi was also one of the main targets. For this reason, he prefers a shadow governance model instead of appearing openly.
Although Ahmad Vahidi is currently presented as a central figure in Iran's military and political decision-making system, his completely secret activity attracts attention. Even if a ceasefire is reached, he continues to govern from the shadows, prioritizing his security…
In some comments, in the absence of an influential figure like Ali Larijani (killed as a result of an Israeli attack on March 17), Ahmad Vahidi is presented as the current “grey cardinal” or “de facto leader.”
A.Gorkhmaz
