Who is Ahmad Vahidi, IRGC Commander-in-Chief?

Analysts say the hardline IRGC chief may decide Iran’s next move.

By World Israel News Staff

As the ceasefire between United States and Iran is set to expire Wednesday evening, analysts say one powerful figure has emerged as a key decision-maker in determining whether Tehran pursues a long-term agreement or returns to war.

Ahmad Vahidi, the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has risen to prominence following the death of his predecessor in the opening strikes of Operation Epic Fury.

“Vahidi is considered a radical even within the regime’s hardline elite, and his rise is a warning that Tehran’s war machine now calls the shots,” said Lisa Daftari, a foreign policy analyst and journalist, in comments to Fox News Digital.

Citing Vahidi’s “bloody and murderous record at the top of the Revolutionary Guard Corps,” Daftari argued that his appointment signals the regime “is not moderating under pressure.” Instead, she said, Iran is “doubling down on men whose careers are built on hostage-taking, assassinations, and domestic repression.”

Experts note that Vahidi has long been a central figure in shaping Iran’s network of proxy groups across the Middle East, including the Lebanon-based Hezbollah terror organization.

Vahidi has also faced international scrutiny over his involvement in a deadly terrorist attack in Buenos Aires, which targeted a Jewish community center. The Argentinean government has reiterated that he remains wanted by authorities for his suspected role in the bombing.

According to Beni Sabti of Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, Vahidi may now be among the most influential figures in Iran’s political system.

Sabti noted that he is believed to have direct access to Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, giving him significant leverage over both military and diplomatic decisions.

He is also thought to wield greater influence in the current political climate than parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, underscoring his growing dominance within the regime.