Mohammad Hossein Bagheri

The Chief of Staff of Iran's Armed Forces is the highest military position in the country, overseeing both the regular army (Artesh) and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) with a focus on strategic coordination and operational readiness. Baqeri holds a doctorate in political geography and teaches at Iran's National Defense University. His military career includes key roles during the Iran-Iraq War, but he is particularly noted for his contributions to modernizing Iran’s defense systems and strengthening its ballistic missile programs. Appointed in 2016, he succeeded Hassan Firouzabadi. Baqeri has been pivotal in Iran’s military involvement in Syria and its support for regional allies, reflecting the IRGC's dominant role in Iran's security strategy. His family has a notable military background; his elder brother, Hassan Baqeri, was a key commander during the Iran-Iraq War.