Mohsen Rezaei, the former Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) who served for years as a military and economic advisor, has emerged over the past year as one of Iran's most frequent media figures regarding potential military conflict with the United States and Israel. This continuous media presence culminated on Sunday, August 9, with his appointment as Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC). Since the onset of the 12-Day War, he has consistently characterized the United States as an untrustworthy party prone to breaching commitments, asserting that Iran will not make the slightest retreat regarding its enrichment rights or its posture in the Strait of Hormuz, while concurrently advocating for domestic inter-factional unity.
Following Rezaei's appointment to lead the SNSC, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) broadcast a profile describing him as a "combatant of the Islamic Revolution," airing wartime footage in which he remarked: "The disbelievers will not leave you in peace as long as you remain steadfast in your faith." The report also featured comments from former IRGC commander Gholamali Rashid, who referred to Rezaei as a "great commander," urging other commanders to execute their duties in a "Mohsen-like" manner. The segment presented him as a military leader, a figure of national reconstruction, and a seasoned political actor.
