Mohammad Ali Jafari

Mohammad Ali Jafari is the former commander“Iran Changes Revolutionary Guards commander: TV,” Reuters, September 1, 2007, http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/09/01/us-iran-guards-idUSBLA16539820070901. of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran’s primary instrument for defending the Islamic Republic against internal and external threats. He was appointed in 2007.Greg Bruno, Jayshree Bajoria, and Jonathan Masters, “Iran’s Revolutionary Guards,” Council on Foreign Relations, June 14, 2013, http://www.cfr.org/iran/irans-revolutionary-guards/p14324. The IRGC exerts influence in both Iranian politics and the economy.Rick Gladstone, “Iran’s Supreme Leader Replaces Head of Revolutionary Guards,” New York Times, April 22, 2019, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/21/world/middleeast/iran-revolutionary-guards-leader.html. Under Jafari, the IRGC aided Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his country’s civil warIan Black, “Iran Confirms It Has Forces in Syria and Will Take Military Action If Pushed,” Guardian (London), September 16, 2012, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/sep/16/iran-middleeast. and fought alongside Shiite militias against ISIS in Iraq.Farnaz Fassihi, “Iran Deploys Revolutionary Guard Forces to Fight Militants in Iraq, Iranian Security Sources Say,” Wall Street Journal, June 12, 2014, http://online.wsj.com/articles/iran-deploys-forces-to-fight-al-qaeda-inspired-militants-in-iraq-iranian-security-sources-1402592470. In April 2019, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei removed Jafari from the post of IRGC commander and appointed his replacement, Hossein Salami.“Supreme Leader Appoints New IRGC Commander,” Islamic Republic News Agency, April 21, 2019, accessed June 13, 2019, http://www.irna.ir/en/News/83286568.

Jafari reportedly views Iran’s “internal enemy” as a larger threat than its “external enemy.”Muhammad Sahimi, “A Hardliner’s Hardliner,” PBS Frontline, January 21, 2010, http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/2010/01/a-hardliners-hardliner.html. The U.S. and EU accuse him of overseeing the brutal suppression of protesters in Iran“Fact Sheet: New Executive Order Targeting Iranian Officials Responsible For Or Complicit In Serious Human Rights Abuses,” U.S. Department of Treasury, September 29, 2010, http://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/tg877.aspx. and Syria.“Council Decision 2013/255/CFSP of 31 May 2013 Concerning Restrictive Measures against Syria,” Official Journal of the European Union, June 1, 2013, http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32013D0255&qid=1414783825631&from=EN. When he directed the IRGC’s Center for Strategy in 2005,Michael Connell, “Iran’s Military Doctrine,” U.S. Institute for Peace, accessed February 22, 2015, http://iranprimer.usip.org/resource/irans-military-doctrine. Jafari introduced the mosaic defense, a plan that seeks to disrupt an invading enemy’s supply lines by placing IRGC units around Iran’s mountainous border regions.Michael Connell, “Iran’s Military Doctrine,” U.S. Institute for Peace, accessed February 22, 2015, http://iranprimer.usip.org/resource/irans-military-doctrine. Jafari also divided the IRGC command structure between 31 Iranian provinces to give local commanders more control and make it more difficult for an invader to target the IRGC’s command structure.Michael Connell, “Iran’s Military Doctrine,” U.S. Institute for Peace, accessed February 22, 2015, http://iranprimer.usip.org/resource/irans-military-doctrine. Jafari later praised Hezbollah’s tactics against Israel in their 2006 war as an example of non-traditional urban warfare.Muhammad Sahimi, “A Hardliner’s Hardliner,” PBS Frontline, January 21, 2010, http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/2010/01/a-hardliners-hardliner.html.

Jafari believes in Iran’s military superiority and has been a vocal critic of the West. Jafari has boasted that Iran will send its enemies “to the depths of the sea.”Nazila Fathi, “Iran Escalates Military Rhetoric,” New York Times, August 5, 2008, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/05/world/africa/05iht-05iran.15003614.html. He believes the ultimate goal of Iran’s Islamic Revolution is to create an Islamic civilization and that the IRGC will carry out this goal.Thomas Erdbrink, “Iranian General Says Saudi Arabia Will Soon Be Toppled,” New York Times, April 27, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/28/world/middleeast/iranian-general-says-saudia-arabia-will-soon-be-toppled.html?ref=world. In January 2014 amid ongoing negotiations on the Iranian nuclear deal, Jafari told Iranian-owned Fars News Agency that then-U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry “must know that direct battle with the US is the biggest dream of pious and revolutionary people across the world. Your threats offer our revolutionary people the best opportunity.”“IRGC Commander: Iran to Give Crushing Response to Enemy’s Aggression,” Fars News Agency, January 26, 2014, http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13921106000769.

In April 2019, Khamenei removed Jafari from the post of commander of the Revolutionary Guards. There was no reason specified for the removal of Jafari in the official press release issued by the IRGC. Khamenei replaced Jafari with Brigadier General Hossein Salami, whom he promoted and appointed as IRGC chief.Rick Gladstone, “Iran's Supreme Leader Replaces Head of Revolutionary Guards,” New York Times, April 22, 2019, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/21/world/middleeast/iran-revolutionary-guards-leader.html. Khamenei reassigned Jafari to the position of director of the Hazrat-e Baqiatollah Social and Cultural Base, where he will aid “the second step of the revolution,” according to Khamenei.“IRGC commander leaves sooner than expected,” Al-Monitor, April 22, 2019, https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2019/04/iran-irgc-new-commander-jafari-salami-khamenei-trump.html. In the weeks prior to this announcement, U.S. President Donald Trump classified the IRCG as a foreign terrorist organization, and therein imposed economic and travel sanctions on members and affiliated groups.“Statement from the President on the Designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a Foreign Terrorist Organization,” The White House, April 8, 2019, https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/statement-president-designation-islamic-revolutionary-guard-corps-foreign-terrorist-organization/. Ahead of the U.S. designation of the IRGC, Jafari promised retaliation if the U.S. government followed through. Media analysts speculated that Jafari made Iran look weak when the United States moved forward with the designation, possibly spurring the change in leadership of the IRGC.Amir Toumaj, Twitter post, April 21, 2019, 11:50 a.m., https://twitter.com/AmirToumaj/status/1119991697545601024; “IRGC commander leaves sooner than expected,” Al-Monitor, April 22, 2019, https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2019/04/iran-irgc-new-commander-jafari-salami-khamenei-trump.html.

On February 11, 2022, Radio Farda released leaked audio of Jafari and his deputy for construction and economic affairs, Sadegh Zolghadrnia, discussing corruption investigations within the IRGC and Tehran’s municipality under then-Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf. The undated audio likely occurred before Jafari was replaced in 2019. In the recording, Zolghadrnia says that Qalibaf had offered him a fake contract with the IRGC to cover up an 80 trillion-rial shortfall discovered during an audit of the IRGC’s Cooperative Foundation. Zolghadrnia allegedly refused the offer. In the recording, Zolghadrnia suggests IRGC intelligence head Hossein Taeb had lobbied for Qalibaf’s offer. Zolghadrnia also reveals Jamal Aberoumand, a deputy to Qalibaf who also served on the board of the Cooperative Foundation, had asked him to remove some passages from an audit regarding the missing funds. On February 12, the IRGC-affiliated Fars News Agency confirmed the authenticity of the recording. On February 13, an IRGC spokesman acknowledged “mismanagement” and a “violation” had occurred in a company affiliated with the Cooperative Foundation.“Radio Farda Exposé On IRGC Corruption, Infighting Raises Ire Of Iranian Authorities,” Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, February 18, 2022, https://www.rferl.org/a/farda-leaked-conversation-corruption-irgc/31710316.html.

Also Known As

Extremist entity
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
Read Threat Report
Type(s) of Organization:
Military, terrorist, transnational, violent
Ideologies and Affiliations:
Islamist, Khomeinist, Shiite, state actor
Position(s):
Director, Hazrat-e Baqiatollah Social and Cultural Base; former commander of the IRGC

The IRGC is an Iranian government agency tasked with defending the regime against internal and external threats. The IRGC uses secret police methods against its opponents within Iran, and terrorist tactics against its enemies abroad.

  • Designations
  • Rhetoric

United States

  • June 16, 2010

    The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated “Mohammad Ali Jafari” as a Specially Designated National under its Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferations Sanctions program.“Fact Sheet: U.S. Treasury Department Targets Iran’s Nuclear and Missile Programs,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, June 16, 2010, http://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/tg747.aspx.

    September 29, 2010

    The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated “Mohammad Ali Jafari” under Executive Order 13553 targeting Iranian officials responsible for or complicit in serious human rights abuses.“Fact Sheet: New Executive Order Targeting Iranian Officials Responsible For Or Complicit in Serious Human Rights Abuses,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, September 29, 2010, http://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/tg877.aspx.

European Union

United Kingdom

Jun. 15, 2022

“The Zionist regime and its officials know better what blows they have received from the Islamic Republic so far, some of which are even still in progress as they (Zionists) are being hit from that area.”“Ex-IRGC Chief: Iran Dealing Blows to Israel Constantly,” Tasnim News Agency, June 15, 2022, https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2022/06/15/2729237/ex-irgc-chief-iran-dealing-blows-to-israel-constantly.

April 5, 2016

“We will continue to support the survival of the Syrian government [in its fight against terrorist groups] and its sovereignty and territorial integrity and will never allow any partitioning of any of Muslim territories. We view disintegration as a British-American-Zionist strategy, therefore we will never allow any weakening of Muslim nations.”“Iran never to allow Syria partition: IRGC chief,” PressTV, April 5, 2016, http://presstv.ir/Detail/2016/04/05/459289/Iran-Syria-IRGC-Jafari-missile/.

Sep. 16, 2015

“We firmly announce that the Islamic Iran has not enjoyed such defense and security power and capabilities and prepared forces in different social arenas any time before.”“Islamic Iran More Powerful than Ever: IRGC Commander,” Tasnim News Agency, September 16, 2015, http://www.tasnimnews.com/english/Home/Single/861200.

Sep. 16, 2015

Speech to the IRGC:

“With all of our ability, we will properly guard the principles, values and achievements of the Islamic Revolution, and we will never allow those opposed to this divine path to pave the way for the enemy.”Arash Karami, “Khamenei asks IRGC to prevent ‘enemy’s influence,’” Al-Monitor, September 16, 2015, http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/09/khamenei-enemy-irgc.html.

Apr. 27, 2015

“The traitor Saudi Arabia is following the path of Israel.”Thomas Erdbrink, “Iranian General Says Saudi Arabia Will Soon Be Toppled,” New York Times, April 27, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/28/world/middleeast/iranian-general-says-saudia-arabia-will-soon-be-toppled.html?ref=world.

Apr. 27, 2015

“The final cause and goal of the Islamic Revolution is creating an Islamic civilization. And we do our best to develop in the path of creating Islamic civilization.”Thomas Erdbrink, “Iranian General Says Saudi Arabia Will Soon Be Toppled,” New York Times, April 27, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/28/world/middleeast/iranian-general-says-saudia-arabia-will-soon-be-toppled.html?ref=world.

Apr. 27, 2015

“The House of Saud is on the edge of disintegration and collapse. Regional and international analysts have talked about it a lot, and we hope that it will come true.”Thomas Erdbrink, “Iranian General Says Saudi Arabia Will Soon Be Toppled,” New York Times, April 27, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/28/world/middleeast/iranian-general-says-saudia-arabia-will-soon-be-toppled.html?ref=world.

Oct. 21, 2014

“Exporting the Islamic Revolution to the world, the country's full and sustainable security and its pride and honor are the achievements gained as a result of the blood of our martyrs.”“IRGC Commander: Iran Prevents Expansion of Zionist Regime in Region,” Fars News Agency, October 21, 2014, http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13930729001391.

Oct. 21, 2014

“Now the Islamic Iran doesn’t allow the Zionist regime’s expansion in the region and it is considered as the opposite point of the Zionist regime.”“IRGC Commander: Iran Prevents Expansion of Zionist Regime in Region,” Fars News Agency, October 21, 2014, http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13930729001391.

Aug. 30, 2014

“We have no doubt that one day we will be in war with the sworn enemies of the Islamic Revolution in the region, of course, we will not be the initiator of that war. This battle will take place and hence we should be fully prepared for that day.”“IRGC Commander: Enemy May Not Dare to Attack Iran,” Fars News Agency, August 30, 2014, http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13930608001690.

Aug. 2014

“We are prepared to back the resistance movement until Palestine is liberated.”IRGC Vows to Continue Backing Resistance Movement till Liberation of Palestine,” Fars News Agency, August 29, 2014, http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13930607000523.

Apr. 2014

“The (Islamic) Revolution is opposed to the hegemonic system and the new world order and all of the foreign policy slogans and positions are based on this pivot, including defending the Palestinian and Syrian people who are today targeted by the enemy.”“IRGC Top Commander: Transfer of Experience Iran’s Only Military Aid to Syria,” Fars News Agency, April 21, 2014, http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13930201000866.

Apr. 2014

“The IRGC should be the guardian of the Revolution within and outside the borders.”“IRGC Top Commander: Transfer of Experience Iran’s Only Military Aid to Syria,” Fars News Agency, April 21, 2014, http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13930201000866.

Feb. 2014

“I really do not know what will happen in these negotiations. One cannot be optimistic about America.”Arash Karami, “IRGC Says It ‘can’t Be Optimistic’ about US in Talks,” Al-Monitor, February 19, 2014, http://iranpulse.al-monitor.com/index.php/2014/02/3933/irgc-says-it-cant-be-optimistic-about-us-in-talks/.

Sep. 25, 2013

“[T]he Islamic Revolution is in good conditions and today the Islamic Revolution’s security is at its peak, while the enemies of the Islamic Iran hatched devilish plots to undermine security and create security problems, but, thanks God, they could not achieve success in any field.”“IRGC Commander: Majority of Iranians Fervently Supporting Islamic Establishment,” Fars News Agency, September 25, 2013, http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13920703001436.

Sep. 16, 2013

“… We are witnessing that the Islamic Revolution’s resistance front is moving on its path crushingly in the occupied Palestinian territories, Iraq and Lebanon.”“IRGC Commander Calls Failed War Plan Against Syria As Enemies’ Latest Defeat Against Iran,” Fars News Agency, September 16, 2013, http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13920625000289.

Oct. 2009

After a suicide bomber kills 11 IRGC commanders:

“Behind this scene are the American and British intelligence apparatus, and there will have to be retaliatory measures to punish them.”Michael Slackman, “Iran Blames U.S. and Britain in Attack,” New York Times, October 20, 2009, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/20/world/middleeast/20iran.html.

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On October 7, 2023, Hamas invaded southern Israel where, in the space of eight hours, hundreds of armed terrorists perpetrated mass crimes of brutality, rape, and torture against men, women and children. In the biggest attack on Jewish life in a single day since the Holocaust, 1,200 were killed, and 251 were taken hostage into Gaza—where 101 remain. One year on, antisemitic incidents have increased by record numbers. 

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