Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has formally appointed six senior military commanders, confirming a wartime reshuffle of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as Tehran rebuilds its command structure. Analysts say the move signals that Iran is preparing for a prolonged confrontation rather than a swift resolution of tensions, with the changes seen as consolidating hardline influence within the regime's military apparatus.

Among those highlighted is IRGC Commander Ahmad Vahidi, described by analysts as a radical hardliner reportedly central to Iran's negotiation strategy. Vahidi rose through the ranks during the Iran-Iraq War and has been linked by reports to past terror attacks, including the 1983 Beirut bombing and the 1994 bombing in Argentina, fuelling concern among observers over who truly holds sway over Iran's military decision-making.