A recently leaked document from the archives of the Iranian regime’s presidency sheds light on why the regime deposed Ali Shamkhani, the previous head of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) who has been replaced by Ali Akbar Ahmadian. The document was published by “GhyamSarnegouni” (“Rise to Overthrow” in Farsi), a dissident group that infiltrated the servers of the office of the presidency on May 29 and obtained a large trove of classified documents. This is the latest batch of internal memos that reveal the turmoil at the highest levels of power within the regime.
Despite the numerous speculations circulated regarding Shamkhani’s dismissal from the regime’s top security role, the published letter proves that his removal was indeed due to escalating internal conflicts within the clerical regime.
Within this correspondence, regime president Ebrahim Raisi reproaches Shamkhani for providing solely “descriptive and analytical” accounts of the widespread protests that erupted throughout Iran in September, emphasizing that the regime’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) is expected to deliver “meta-analysis, problem-solving strategies, and decisive action” to address the challenges at hand.
In his letter, Raisi reminds the booted SNSC chief that the “Supreme Security Council and other intelligence-security agencies ought to proactively anticipate, forecast, and shape the future by staying one step ahead of unfolding events, even surprising themselves. Regrettably, in recent months, the reports have primarily focused on recounting street-level occurrences, merely awaiting the revelation of adversaries’ unexpected strategies.”
Furthermore, the letter raises questions about “inconsistencies, shortcomings, and flaws” within the country’s intelligence systems that “were also evident in some of his Excellency’s reports.” The letter ponders the necessary course of action to rectify these issues, questioning who should be held accountable if the approved measures by the SNSC have not been executed and seeking assurance regarding the actual implementation of council resolutions.
Lastly, the letter serves as a reminder to Shamkhani that “In accordance with the Supreme Leader’s aspirations, we should not confine ourselves to mere descriptions of the situation, but rather prioritize finding solutions, taking action to address issues, and fulfilling their demands.”
Who is Shamkhani?
Born in 1955 in southwest Iran, Ali Shamkhani was a founding member of the IRGC and close with regime officials after the 1979 revolution. He held various positions, including Minister of Defense and Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, among others. Shamkhani was sanctioned twice by the US, with the latest being in February 2020 for his role in human rights violations and terrorism.
He is known for his corruption, with his family controlling a major maritime company and associates running corporations under fake identities to evade international sanctions. A report by the National Council of Resistance of Iran revealed Shamkhani’s illicit activities, including owning luxury residences throughout Iran. Shamkhani was replaced by IRGC commander Ali Akbar Ahmadian.
Who is Ali Akbar Ahmadian?
The new Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, born in 1960 in Kerman province, left school to fight in the Iran-Iraq war as a young man. Following his involvement in the successful Fatah al-Mobin operation, he was appointed as head of the IRGC 6th region’s headquarters. Ahmadian served in the 41st Army of Tharullah and was an early proponent of the concept of asymmetric defense.
He succeeded Ali Shamkhani as commander of the IRGC Navy and later became head of the Joint Staff of the IRGC. In 2006, Khamenei appointed Ahmadian as head of the IRGC’s strategic center and later as a member of the regime’s Expediency Council, sparking speculation about his potential to replace Shamkhani.
Conclusion
Khamenei aimed to “consolidate power” within the so-called “Young and Hezbollahi” system by handpicking parliamentary members and appointing Raisi as president. Speculations regarding escalating tensions between Shamkhani and Raisi surfaced right from the outset of Raisi’s presidency. The revealed documents further confirm Khamenei’s failure in his quest to have a consolidated system, as he had to remove Shamkhani, one of close associates, from a top security position.
Source » mojahedin