With top Iranian officials eliminated in US-Israeli airstrikes earlier this year, Maj Gen Ahmad Vahidi has stepped forward as the Islamic Republic's new power player. The seasoned IRGC commander was formally appointed its chief on 1 March 2026, days after the deaths of his predecessors in the opening phase of the conflict.
As Tehran balances a precarious ceasefire with Washington and persistent threats in the Strait of Hormuz, Vahidi is now viewed by many observers as the figure effectively steering the regime's security decisions and response strategy.
