Iran replaces long-time incumbent in powerful national security post after spy scandal

Shamkhani faces persistent corruption allegations – which he denies – and scrutiny over close ties with a British-Iranian man hanged on spying charges this year

He will be replaced by Ali Akbar Ahmadian, who sits on the country’s Expediency Council that advises the supreme leader

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Saudi Minister of State and National Security Adviser Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban (left) meets Iran’s Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, in Beijing, on March 10, 2023. Photo: via Reuters

Published: 7:16pm, 22 May 2023

Iran’s president on Monday appointed a new official to take over the post of secretary of the country’s Supreme National Security Council, replacing the long-time powerful official Ali Shamkhani after becoming implicated in a recent spy scandal.

President Ebrahim Raisi issued a decree replacing Shamkhani who has faced persistent corruption allegations – which he denied – as well as scrutiny because of close ties with a British-Iranian man hanged on spying charges earlier this year in Iran.

Shamkhani was a key player in negotiations with the West over Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. He was also in office during the years of tensions that followed then-president Donald Trump’s 2018 decision to unilaterally withdraw America from the accord.

The decree, reported by the state-run IRNA news agency, offered no explanation for the change. In a message on Twitter on Sunday night, as rumours about his position circulated, Shamkhani cryptically posted a verse by the 14th century Persian poet Mohtasham Kashani.

His replacement, a Revolutionary Guard figure, will take over as Iran faces continued economic pressure from Western sanctions, challenges following months-long protests over the death of Mahsa Amini – who died while in custody of Iran’s morality police – and a recent de-escalation with Iran’s Gulf Arab neighbours, particularly Saudi Arabia.

A newspaper with a cover picture of the Iran’s Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and Saudi Minister of State and National Security Adviser Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban, is seen in Tehran on Iran March 11, 2023. Photo: Reuters

Shamkhani had served in the position for just under a decade. He was not the longest-serving secretary of the council, which is the highest-level body to deal with security matters under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Former president Hassan Rowhani served in the same capacity for 15 years before taking office.