Abdolrahim Mousavi

Career

Early years

Mousavi's military career began in 1979. During the 1980-88 Iran–Iraq War, he served in the Iranian Army's artillery units on various fronts, including with the 28th Kurdistan Division in Kurdistan province, and with the 33rd Artillery Group in Khuzestan province.

From 1999 to 2005, he served as the Chief of the Joint Staff of the Ground Forces. In 2017 he was promoted from Brigadier General to Major General, and from August 2017 to June 2025, he served as the chief of staff of the Ground Forces.

2017-present

In August 2017, he said that the “martyrdom-seeking and jihadi spirit of the Iranian people” made it impossible for the United States and its allies to attack Iran militarily.

In January 2018 he referred to the United States as the "Great Satan". That year he also said that his “greatest wish is the annihilation of Israel.”

In September 2019, he said that the United States is "like an animal that would chase after you if you run away, and would run away if you attack them." In January 2020, after warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump, he said that the United States lacked the “courage to initiate” a conflict with Iran.

Mousavi said in April 2023 that Israel was "too small to be considered a threat to the Islamic Republic of Iran,” as reported by Middle East Monitor. In May 2025 Mousavi dismissed comments by Israeli officials as "bluster", and said that "the Israeli leadership lacks the capacity to harm the greatness of Iran."

On 13 June 2025, Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei appointed Mousavi as the chief of staff of the armed forces, following the killing of Mousavi’s predecessor Mohammad Bagheri in the Israeli strikes on Iran.

Sanctions

In March 2023, Mousavi was sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for serious human rights abuses. It said that, in both the November 2019 economic protests and in protests following the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022, troops under his command "used machine guns to fire indiscriminately into crowds of protestors". He is also listed on sanctions lists of the European Union, United Kingdom, and Australia for serious human rights abuses.

Award

On 10 March 2024, Mousavi was awarded an Order of Fath medal (also known as the Victory Medal) by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei for "improving the defence, combat, and deterrence power" of the Iranian armed forces. On the same day, a medal was also awarded to commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hossein Salami.

References

References

1. (18 January 2016). "زندگی نامه فرماندهان جدید ارتش". aftabir.com.
2. 13 June 2025, “Profile: Maj. Gen. Seyed Abdolrahim Mousavi, new Chief of Staff of Iran's Armed Forces,” Press TV.
3. (18 September 2017). "Iran's New Army Chief: Tiniest Mistake Will Shorten Israel's 25-Year Lifespan".
4. (15 June 2025). "Inside Khamenei's war cabinet: how Iran guides its contest with Israel".
5. (7 September 2019). "U.S. backs off when faced with resistance: Army chief".
6. (5 January 2020). "US lacks “courage to initiate” conflict: Iran's army commander".
7. (11 April 2023). "Iran: Israel too small to pose threat, says army chief".
8. (May 26, 2025). "Iran's army chief says forces 'fully prepared' for more attacks on Israel".
9. . (13 June 2025). ["Israel launches strikes against Iran nuclear and military facilities"](https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20250613-israel-iran-nuclear).
10. (8 March 2023). "Marking International Women's Day, Treasury Sanctions Iranian Officials and Entities for Serious Human Rights Abuses".
11. (14 June 2025). "Amir Hatami: Ex-Defence Minister Turns Army Chief after Israeli Strikes Kill Top Generals".
12. (11 March 2024). "Iran Update, March 11, 2024".
13. (11 March 2024). "Leader awards Fath Medal to Army and IRGC chiefs".