Ahmad Vahidi, a senior commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has recently come into global focus amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and renewed exchanges of missile fire between Iran and Israel. Reports have linked him to strategic military decision-making within Iran, including responses to Israeli strikes and regional developments involving allied groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Vahidi currently serves as a deputy commander in the IRGC, one of Iran’s most powerful military and security institutions. Born in June 1958 in Shiraz, Iran, he pursued academic studies in electronics, followed by a master’s degree in industrial engineering and a PhD in strategic studies. His technical and strategic background later shaped his role in Iran’s military and intelligence architecture.

During the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, Vahidi was involved in military intelligence operations and played a role in strengthening the IRGC’s intelligence network. In 1988, he became the first commander of the Quds Force, the IRGC’s external operations wing responsible for overseas missions and coordination with allied armed groups in the Middle East. Under his leadership, the force expanded its regional influence before Qassem Soleimani succeeded him in 1997.

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Vahidi later held several senior government positions in Iran. He served as defence minister from 2009 to 2013 under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a period during which Iran significantly advanced its domestic missile and drone capabilities. He also led a defence university and later became interior minister under President Ebrahim Raisi in 2021, overseeing internal security matters during a period of widespread protests in the country.

Over the years, Vahidi has faced international sanctions from countries including the United States, Canada and members of the European Union, which have accused him of involvement in terrorism-related activities and Iran’s nuclear programme. Argentina has also accused him of involvement in the 1994 Buenos Aires bombing, which killed 85 people, and has issued an Interpol Red Notice in connection with the case. Iran has consistently denied these allegations.

As regional tensions continue to fluctuate, Vahidi remains a key figure within Iran’s security establishment, reflecting the broader role of the IRGC in shaping the country’s military strategy and foreign policy decisions in the Middle East.

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