Mohsen Rezaee Mirgha'ed (, born Sabzevar Rezaee Mirgha'ed (); born 1 September 1954) is an Iranian
conservative
Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...
politician affiliated with the
Resistance Front of Islamic Iran and senior military officer in the
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), also known as the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, is a multi-service primary branch of the Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces, Iranian Armed Forces. It was officially established by Ruhollah Khom ...
, who is currently a member of the
Expediency Discernment Council, secretary of the , as well as the secretary of the Iranian government's Economic Committee. He was secretary of the
Expediency Discernment Council from 1997 to 2021 and
Vice President of Iran
First vice president of Iran () is defined by article 124 of the Constitution of Iran as anyone appointed by the President of Iran to lead an organization related to presidential affairs in Iran. , there are fourteen vice presidents. The first vic ...
for Economic Affairs between 2021 and 2023.
From 1980 to 1997, Rezaee was commander-in-chief of the
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), also known as the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, is a multi-service primary branch of the Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces, Iranian Armed Forces. It was officially established by Ruhollah Khom ...
.
Before the
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution (, ), also known as the 1979 Revolution, or the Islamic Revolution of 1979 (, ) was a series of events that culminated in the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty in 1979. The revolution led to the replacement of the Impe ...
, Rezaee was a member of the
Islamist guerrilla rebel group ''Mansouroun'' and joined the
Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization following the revolution.
Dubbed a "
perennial candidate
A perennial candidate is a political candidate who frequently runs for elected office and rarely, if ever, wins. Perennial candidates are most common where there is no limit on the number of times that a person can run for office and little cost ...
", Rezaee ran as a conservative presidential candidate in the
2009 elections,
coming third with 1.7 percent of the vote, behind winner
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (born Mahmoud Sabbaghian on 28 October 1956) is an Iranian Iranian principlists, principlist and Iranian nationalism, nationalist politician who served as the sixth president of Iran from 2005 to 2013. He is currently a mem ...
and reformist runner-up
Mir-Hossein Mousavi. He was also a candidate in
2013 presidential election and received 3,884,412 votes. He ranked fourth behind winner
Hassan Rouhani
Hassan Rouhani (; born Hassan Fereydoun, 12 November 1948) is an Iranian peoples, Iranian politician who served as the seventh president of Iran from 2013 to 2021. He is also a sharia lawyer ("Wakil"), academic, former diplomat and Islamic cl ...
, runner-up
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf (, born 23 August 1961) is an Iranian Iranian Principlists, conservative politician, former military officer, and current List of Speakers of the Parliament of Iran, Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, Parli ...
and
Saeed Jalili.
In the 2021 election, Rezaee was the runner-up to the winner
Ebrahim Raisi, who came victorious from the first round, garnering 3.4 million votes, slightly lower than his 2013 tally.
Early life and education
Rezaee was born in
Masjed Soleyman
Masjed Soleyman () is a city in the Central District (Masjed Soleyman County), Central District of Masjed Soleyman County, Khuzestan province, Khuzestan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district.
History
Th ...
on 9 September 1954 to a religious
Bakhtiyari nomadic family. He spent his childhood and adolescence in the oil-rich city of
Masjed Soleyman
Masjed Soleyman () is a city in the Central District (Masjed Soleyman County), Central District of Masjed Soleyman County, Khuzestan province, Khuzestan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district.
History
Th ...
(Irsoleymān) in southwestern Iran.
Along with his close friends, Rezaee established the "Religion and Science Association". When he was to begin studying at a high school run by the
National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) in 1969, Rezaee moved to the city of
Ahvaz. At said school, he started his political and cultural struggle against the
Shah
Shāh (; ) is a royal title meaning "king" in the Persian language.Yarshater, Ehsa, ''Iranian Studies'', vol. XXII, no. 1 (1989) Though chiefly associated with the monarchs of Iran, it was also used to refer to the leaders of numerous Per ...
's regime and was arrested by the
SAVAK in his last year. Rezaee was 17 when he served five months in solitary confinement. He did not stop his political activities after he was released from prison.
Rezaee arrived in
Tehran
Tehran (; , ''Tehrân'') is the capital and largest city of Iran. It is the capital of Tehran province, and the administrative center for Tehran County and its Central District (Tehran County), Central District. With a population of around 9. ...
in 1974 to study
mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is the study of physical machines and mechanism (engineering), mechanisms that may involve force and movement. It is an engineering branch that combines engineering physics and engineering mathematics, mathematics principl ...
at
Iran University of Science and Technology. He studied and worked at the same time. SAVAK intensified its crackdown on guerrilla groups to which he was a member. He had to abandon the university.
He launched provincial branches of Mansouroun guerrilla fighters in seven provinces. When
Ruhollah Khomeini
Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini (17 May 1900 or 24 September 19023 June 1989) was an Iranian revolutionary, politician, political theorist, and religious leader. He was the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the main leader of the Iranian ...
returned home from exile, the Mansouroun group was tasked with protecting the revolutionary leader. After the
1979 Islamic Revolution, seven armed Muslim groups teamed up and established the Islamic Revolution Mujahideen Organization to safeguard the nascent Islamic Revolution.
Although he studied mechanical engineering at Iran University of Science and Technology before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Rezaee switched to economics after the
Iran–Iraq War
The Iran–Iraq War, also known as the First Gulf War, was an armed conflict between Iran and Iraq that lasted from September 1980 to August 1988. Active hostilities began with the Iraqi invasion of Iran and lasted for nearly eight years, unti ...
, studying at
Tehran University and received his PhD in 2001.
[
]
Career
Rezaee joined the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), also known as the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, is a multi-service primary branch of the Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces, Iranian Armed Forces. It was officially established by Ruhollah Khom ...
(IRGC) and later was appointed chief of its intelligence division. He was appointed the IRGC commander by Ruhollah Khomeini
Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini (17 May 1900 or 24 September 19023 June 1989) was an Iranian revolutionary, politician, political theorist, and religious leader. He was the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the main leader of the Iranian ...
, and after it grew in organizational complexity he assumed the office of IRGC's commander-in-chief on 11 September 1981, when he was 27 years old, and remained in the post until he announced his retirement from all of his military posts. He actively participated in the Iran–Iraq War
The Iran–Iraq War, also known as the First Gulf War, was an armed conflict between Iran and Iraq that lasted from September 1980 to August 1988. Active hostilities began with the Iraqi invasion of Iran and lasted for nearly eight years, unti ...
. In 1986, he was named member of the Supreme Defense Council.
Rezaee was removed from the IRGC in 1997 due to pressures from the followers of the then president Mohammad Khatami
Mohammad Khatami (born 14 October 1943) is an Iranian politician and Shia cleric who served as the fifth president of Iran from 3 August 1997 to 3 August 2005. He also served as Iran's Minister of Culture from 1982 to 1992. Later, he was critic ...
. Another reason for his dismissal was his failure to respond to the perceived threat of attack from the US. He was replaced by Yahya Rahim Safavi.
He became a member of Expediency Discernment Council and then its secretary in August 1997. He was also appointed chair of the commission for macroeconomics and commerce. In addition, he is a reviewer of Iran's 2025 version development.
Rezaee founded the news website Tabnak, originally Baztab, in 2002 as a reaction to the proliferation of reformist websites. He also co-founded Imam Hossein University and teaches there.
It is reported that he returned to IRGC in 2015.
Presidential campaigns
Rezaee was a candidate of the presidential election of 2005, but withdrew on 15 June 2005, only two days before the election. Rezaee mentioned withdrawing from the race for "the integration of the nation's votes" and "their effectiveness". He did not endorse any candidate.
On 23 April 2009, he announced that he entered the 2009 presidential race, after trying to find another conservative to run against President Ahmadinejad, which he lost. He was also a candidate in the 2013 election. Rezaee announced his run for presidency in October 2012.
On 12 December 2016, Rezaee announced that he "has no decision to run for president" in the 2017 election. However, in February 2017 he told press that if asked by the Popular Front of Islamic Revolutionary Forces to stand, he "will think about it".
Views
In 1988, Rezaee sent a letter to Ayatollah Khomeini, arguing that the Iran–Iraq War could not be won.
In the run-up to the 2009 Iranian elections, Rezaee criticized opposing candidate Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's public comments questioning the Holocaust
The Holocaust (), known in Hebrew language, Hebrew as the (), was the genocide of History of the Jews in Europe, European Jews during World War II. From 1941 to 1945, Nazi Germany and Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy ...
as "not useful" for Iran's international standing. Rezaee stated on 2 August 2009 that the ongoing trials of so-called 'prisoners' was an unjust act, issuing a letter on behalf of the Expediency Council of which he is the secretary, condemning the government.
In September 2019, Rezaee expressed his hope that Iran would capture US President Donald Trump
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 45 ...
and place him on trial.
Controversy
A clash and the disagreement over strategy to be adopted in the Iran–Iraq War emerged between Ali Sayed Shirazi, commander of land forces, and Rezaee in July 1986. When this rivalry became public, Ayatollah Khomeini met them in his residence on 19 July 1986 and urged them to "seek unity", telling them "You must endeavor, not to think in terms of being members of the Armed Forces or those of the Guards Corps or of the Basij forces. ... We must understand that if there were to be any disputes among you ... not only are we doomed here and now, but we also are guilty before God."
In November 2006, Argentine Judge Rodolfo Canicoba Corral issued international arrest warrants for Rezaee, six other Iranians, and one Lebanese in connection with the AMIA bombing, the attacks on 18 July 1994, a suicide bombing of the Jewish cultural center (AMIA) in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires, controlled by the government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Argentina. It is located on the southwest of the Río de la Plata. Buenos Aires is classified as an Alpha− glob ...
, Argentina, which resulted in the deaths of 85 people and serious injuries to 151.[Stephens, Brett, "Iran's al Qaeda", Stephens' "Global View" column, editorial pages, '']The Wall Street Journal
''The Wall Street Journal'' (''WSJ''), also referred to simply as the ''Journal,'' is an American newspaper based in New York City. The newspaper provides extensive coverage of news, especially business and finance. It operates on a subscriptio ...
'', 16 October 2007; p. A20 The attack on the Jewish cultural center came two years after the 1992 terrorist bombing of the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires. In 1998, Rezaee's son, Ahmad, defected to the United States, where he told officials that the attack on the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires was planned in Tehran
Tehran (; , ''Tehrân'') is the capital and largest city of Iran. It is the capital of Tehran province, and the administrative center for Tehran County and its Central District (Tehran County), Central District. With a population of around 9. ...
. The son told U.S. authorities that he had accompanied his father to Lebanon to witness the training. Ahmad Rezaee returned to Iran after a short time and declared that his statements about his father's involvement in the bombing were baseless. Mohsen Rezaee has been on the official Wanted list of Interpol
The International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL (abbreviated as ICPO–INTERPOL), commonly known as Interpol ( , ; stylized in allcaps), is an international organization that facilitates worldwide police cooperation and crime cont ...
since March 2007, for allegations of "Aggravated Murder and Damages" related to the 1994 AMIA bombing case. Rezaee rejected the allegations, saying in June 2009, "These charges were a sheer lie". Following his alleged involvement in the bombing, in 2007 Razaee was subject to an Interpol Red Notice, marking him internationally wanted for "aggravated murder and damages".
On 16 June 2025, during the Israel–Iran conflict, Rezaee claimed on state television that Pakistan
Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...
has assured Iran it would launch a nuclear strike on Israel if Israel were to use nuclear weapons against Iran. Rezaee also said Iran possesses "undisclosed" military capabilities. However, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif dismissed the claim.
US Sanctions
On January 10 2020, Razaee was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury's Specially Designated Nationals List under Executive Order 13876. The sanctions were imposed due to his involvement in advancing the regime’s destabilizing objectives.
Electoral history
Personal life
Rezaee married in 1974. He has five children, two sons and three daughters. His eldest son, Ahmad, migrated to the United States in 1998 and sought political asylum.[
Ahmad spoke against the policies of the Iranian Islamic government, and accused his father and others of supporting terrorist acts.][ He returned to Iran in 2005, recanting his statements,][ then migrated to the ]United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), or simply the Emirates, is a country in West Asia, in the Middle East, at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is a Federal monarchy, federal elective monarchy made up of Emirates of the United Arab E ...
in 2011. On 13 November 2011, his body was found in a hotel in Dubai
Dubai (Help:IPA/English, /duːˈbaɪ/ Help:Pronunciation respelling key, ''doo-BYE''; Modern Standard Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic: ; Emirati Arabic, Emirati Arabic: , Romanization of Arabic, romanized: Help:IPA/English, /diˈbej/) is the Lis ...
. It was reported that he was killed by a hotel servant, but the Dubai Police stated that he had died after taking a large quantity of antidepressant
Antidepressants are a class of medications used to treat major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, chronic pain, and addiction.
Common side effects of antidepressants include Xerostomia, dry mouth, weight gain, dizziness, headaches, akathi ...
s.[Ahmad Rezaee, son of the Mohsen Rezaee was killed in Dubai](_blank)
''Tabnak'' His brother, Omidvar, is a member of the Parliament of Iran
The Islamic Consultative Assembly (), also called the Iranian Parliament, the Iranian Majles (Arabicised spelling Majlis) or ICA, is the unicameral national legislative body of Iran. The parliament currently consists of 290 representatives, an i ...
since 2008.
Works
* ''Iran at future horizon''
* ''Fath's orders''
* ''Iran and Middle East''
* ''Look of the Sun''
* ''I want to die like a cloud''
* ''186 Pilgrim notes''
* ''Regional Iran''
* ''Answer to some questions about War''
* ''Establishment of Badr's Sepah''
* ''Explanation of trade flows on industrial productivity in Iran''
* ''Rights of the accused in the court system''
* ''Hidden Hands''
* ''The third face of economic jihad''
* ''Ahmad Kazemi's biography''
* ''Model for cultural policy and planning''
* ''Who was Ebrahim Hemat?''
* ''The second wave of the Revolution''
* ''Economic Federalism''
* ''Monetary theory, and general equilibrium Atyar''
See also
* List of Iranian two-star generals since 1979
* List of Iranian commanders in the Iran–Iraq War
* Hassan Bagheri
References
* Iran Human Rights Documentation Center.
Violent Aftermath: The 2009 Election and Suppression of Dissent in Iran
. Feb. 2010, New Haven, CT. p. 5
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rezaee, Mohsen
1954 births
Living people
Iran University of Science and Technology alumni
Academic staff of Imam Hossein University
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps major generals
Staff of Imam Hossein University
Candidates for President of Iran
People from Khuzestan province
Members of the Expediency Discernment Council
Bakhtiari people
People from Masjed Soleyman
Recipients of the Order of Fath
Resistance Front of Islamic Iran politicians
Iranian news website owners (people)
Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization politicians
Popular Front of Islamic Revolution Forces politicians
Spiritual leaders of political parties in Iran
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps personnel of the Iran–Iraq War
Iranian individuals subject to U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctions
Vice presidents of Iran for Economic Affairs
1988 executions of Iranian political prisoners