Introduction

When Ahmad Vahidi was appointed deputy commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in December 2025, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, then Iran’s Supreme Leader, wrote in his decree that the Brigadier General’s elevation was aimed at “enhancing operational readiness and addressing the spiritual and material needs” of the IRGC. Within months, Vahidi would ascend to the top of the IRGC, becoming one of the most consequential—and unenviable—figures in the Islamic Republic.

Vahidi's Rise to Power

Born on June 27, 1958, in Shiraz, Vahid Shahcheraghi grew up in the Shah’s tumultuous Iran. He adopted the nom de guerre ‘Ahmad Vahidi’ when he joined the IRGC, or Sepah-e-Pasdaran, in 1979, immediately after Ayatollah Khomeini established his rule following the collapse of the monarchical regime, as reported by The Hindu — World.

Gen. Vahidi’s appointment as deputy commander came months after the 12-day Iran-Israel war in June 2025, according to The Hindu — World. On the opening day of that conflict, the IRGC’s Commander-in-Chief Hossein Salami was killed in a targeted Israeli strike. He was succeeded by Mohammad Pakpour. There was a fragile lull in tensions after that conflict, but Iran believed that a bigger war was coming. An experienced commander and one of the architects of Iran’s resistance infrastructure, Gen. Vahidi was brought in to help prepare the IRGC for the next round of fighting.

Few expected that he would soon be leading that war himself. Gen. Pakpour was killed, along with Ali Khamenei and several other senior officials, on February 28 when the U.S. and Israel launched a new war against Iran, as detailed by The Hindu — World. Within days, Gen. Vahidi was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC. He then disappeared almost entirely from public view, enforcing and directing Iran’s military response from the shadows.

The IRGC's Dominant Role

The Jerusalem Post reports that Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on February 28, 2026, in an airstrike. Since then, the IRGC has exercised total control over political, economic, and strategic decisions in Iran, according to the same source. The Jerusalem Post also notes that the new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, lacks religious credentials and public legitimacy, and has yet to demonstrate any independent authority.

The Jerusalem Post describes Iran’s transformation from an autocratic theocracy into what some interpret as a “dictatorial, mafia-style oligarchy in military uniform.” The new supreme leader, according to this perspective, was selected under direct military pressure that bypassed the constitutional process. Real power, the Jerusalem Post reports, resides in three IRGC hardliners: IRGC Commander-in-Chief Brig.-Gen. Ahmad Vahidi; secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr; and senior military adviser to Khamenei, Mohsen Rezaei.

These three rejected renewed negotiations with the US and want to continue the war, the Jerusalem Post reports. They are aware that Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran’s president since July 2024, wants a ceasefire, and they act systematically to thwart him. The IRGC has blocked his ministerial appointments and countered his signals of de-escalation.

The Ceasefire and Subsequent Conflict

On July 6, a source of power within the regime authorized Iranian forces to attack three commercial vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, well aware that this would prompt a US reaction, as reported by the Jerusalem Post. In response, the US Central Command struck more than 80 Iranian military targets. The regime’s actions support those who maintain that Iran is governed today by an IRGC which, as the Jerusalem Post puts it, calls the shots.

The Hindu — World provides a different perspective on the conflict, focusing on the military strategy and diplomatic efforts. It reports the details of the April 8 ceasefire and the July 17 memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran. The Hindu — World frames the IRGC’s actions as driven by a desire to defend Iran’s interests and resist external pressure, noting that Vahidi’s role has been central in the recent war.

Key Claims

  • February 28 airstrike: Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on February 28, 2026, as reported by both Jerusalem Post and The Hindu — World.
  • IRGC control: The IRGC exercises total control over political, economic, and strategic decisions in Iran, according to Jerusalem Post.
  • New supreme leader: Mojtaba Khamenei lacks religious credentials and public legitimacy, as reported by Jerusalem Post.
  • Hardliner rejection: IRGC hardliners rejected renewed negotiations with the US and want to continue the war, according to Jerusalem Post.
  • US strikes: The US Central Command struck more than 80 Iranian military targets in response to an attack on commercial vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by Jerusalem Post.
  • Vahidi's appointment: Ahmad Vahidi was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC after the death of Ali Khamenei, as reported by The Hindu — World.
  • Pezeshkian thwarted: The IRGC has blocked President Masoud Pezeshkian's ministerial appointments and countered his signals of de-escalation, according to Jerusalem Post.
  • Ceasefire and MoU: A ceasefire was agreed on April 8 and a memorandum of understanding was signed between the US and Iran on July 17, as reported by The Hindu — World.

Perspectives

Jerusalem Post: Portrays the IRGC as a dominant, autocratic force that controls Iran's governance, with Vahidi as a key hardliner opposing negotiations and continuing the war.

The Hindu — World: Presents Vahidi's role and the IRGC's strategy more neutrally, emphasizing the defense of Iran's interests and the diplomatic efforts leading to the ceasefire and memorandum of understanding.