Brigadier General Hojatollah Ghoreishi Appointed IRGC Deputy Coordinator

Major General Mohammad Pakpour, the Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), officially appointed Brigadier General Hojatollah Ghoreishi as the new IRGC Deputy Coordinator on October 27. This high-level appointment marks a significant change within the command structure of Iran's elite military organization.

Leadership Transition in the IRGC

The appointment saw Brigadier General Hojatollah Ghoreishi step into the role previously held by Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naghdi. Naghdi, who had served as the IRGC Deputy Coordinator since May 2019 or 2020, has been transitioned to a new position as a 'senior adviser' to Major General Pakpour. While the official announcement came on October 27, some Iranian outlets reported on October 26 that Ghoreishi had already been functioning in the capacity of Deputy Coordinator for 'some time'.

Profile of Brigadier General Hojatollah Ghoreishi

Brigadier General Hojatollah Ghoreishi brings a background of extensive experience within Iran's defense apparatus. Prior to this appointment, he held several key positions, including:

• Deputy Defense and Armed Forces Logistics Minister (as of January 2024)
• Deputy for Supply, Research, and Industry Affairs in the Defense and Armed Forces Logistics Ministry

Ghoreishi was sanctioned by the US Treasury Department in 2023. These sanctions were imposed due to his alleged involvement in negotiating an agreement to supply Iranian drones to Russia for use in Ukraine, as well as his leadership in Iranian military research and development efforts.

The Role of IRGC Deputy Coordinator

The position of a coordination deputy within Iran's military structure is comparable to that of a chief of staff in the US military, indicating a crucial role in operational oversight and strategic implementation. The IRGC itself is a multi-service branch of the Iranian Armed Forces, established in 1979 following the Islamic Revolution. Its constitutional mandate is to safeguard the integrity of the Islamic Republic, prevent foreign interference, thwart coups, and suppress 'deviant movements'. The organization plays a significant role across various sectors, including politics, economics, and society, and is responsible for Iran's ballistic missile program.