Following the deaths of several senior Iranian commanders in recent US and Israeli strikes, attention has turned to who now stands as the most influential military figure in Iran.
According to Iranian media reports, Major General Ali Abdollahi is currently emerging as a central figure. He serves as commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters — the body responsible for coordinating national defence operations between Iran’s regular army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The IRGC recently appointed a new commander following leadership losses, further reshaping Iran’s military hierarchy during a period of heightened tensions.
Iranian outlets reported that Abdollahi was present in Tehran during mourning events for the late Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
In remarks carried by local media, Abdollahi pledged that Iran would “respond to the threats of enemies on the battlefield,” adding that the country’s armed forces are at their highest level of readiness.
Abdollahi was previously sanctioned by the United States in January 2020, alongside other Iranian military officials, in response to missile attacks launched at US military bases in Iraq.
As regional tensions continue to escalate, Abdollahi’s role at the helm of Iran’s joint defence coordination structure places him at the centre of the country’s military decision-making.
