Iran’s President Raisi Replaces Key Security Council Secretary Amid Spy Scandal
Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi announced on Monday the appointment of Ali Akbar Ahmadian as the new secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, replacing the influential Ali Shamkhani amid corruption allegations and an espionage scandal. Shamkhani, who served in the role for nearly a decade, has been facing criticism due to his alleged ties with a British-Iranian man who was executed in Iran on spying charges earlier this year.
Ahmadian, a Revolutionary Guard figure, steps into the role during a period of significant challenges for Iran, including economic stress due to Western sanctions, public unrest following the death of protest icon Mahsa Amini in custody, and a phase of de-escalation with Gulf Arab neighbors.
Shamkhani was instrumental in the negotiation of the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and navigated the subsequent tensions following the US’s withdrawal from the accord in 2018. He also played a critical role in de-escalating tensions with Gulf Arab states. However, recent corruption allegations over real estate and shipping deals linked to his family have brought him under scrutiny.
Shamkhani’s successor, Ahmadian, has served as the commander of the Guard’s navy and the chief of the Guard’s joint staff. He is also a member of Iran’s Expediency Council, which advises the supreme leader and resolves disputes between parliament and the Guardian Council.
