Senior Iranian military official Ahmad Vahidi has been appointed head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, following the death of the previous commander, Mohammad Pakpour, who was killed on Saturday (February 28th) during Israeli and American strikes.
Vahidi, born on June 27, 1958, previously served as head of the Guard's elite foreign unit, the Quds Force. He is a controversial figure on the international stage, accused of involvement in the bombings of the Israeli embassy and the AMIA Jewish center in Argentina in the 1990s.
In 1992, an explosion at the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires killed 29 people. Two years later, a truck packed with explosives crashed into the AMIA community center, killing 85 people and injuring about 300. Argentina and Israel have long accused Hezbollah of carrying out the AMIA attack with Iranian support.
In 2024, an Argentine court officially blamed Iran for the attack, calling the country a “terrorist state.” Vahid has been on Interpol’s wanted list since 2007 for his alleged role in the attacks. Following the court’s ruling, Argentina renewed its request for his arrest.
In addition to his military career, Vahidi also served as Iran's Interior Minister from 2021 to 2024.
His predecessor, Mohammad Pakpour, played a key role in Iran's regional operations and the development of its missile programs. He took over the leadership of the Revolutionary Guard in June after the death of the previous commander during a 12-day war.
Vahid's appointment as head of the Revolutionary Guard is expected to increase tensions with the West, due to old accusations and his role in Iran's most powerful military structures.
