BUENOS AIRES, October 31, 2025 - Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has appointed General Ahmad Vahidi as Deputy Chief of the Armed Forces General Staff, a move that strengthens the military leadership during a period of security apparatus reorganization.
A veteran of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Vahidi previously headed the Quds Force, the branch responsible for foreign operations. He has since held key positions as Minister of Defense and Minister of the Interior.
Vahidi is wanted by Interpol in connection with the 1994 AMIA bombing in Buenos Aires. His appointment to a top military post could complicate potential judicial cooperation, reactivate diplomatic actions, and strain multilateral forums. The United States sanctioned Vahidi in 2010, and his promotion is seen as a sign of continuity in Tehran's hardline defense doctrine, despite some wavering in other state sectors.
