Ahmad Vahidi

Ahmad Vahidi
Ahmad Vahidi in 2004

Minister of Defense
In office 3 September 2009 – 15 August 2013
President	Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Preceded by	Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar
Succeeded by	Hossein Dehghan
Deputy Minister of Defense
In office 9 August 2005 – 9 August 2009
President	Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Preceded by	Ali Reza Asghari
Succeeded by	Asadollah Emami
Personal details
Born	(1958-06-27) 27 June 1958 Shiraz, Iran
Nationality	Iranian
Religion	Shia Islam
Military service
Allegiance	Iran
Service/branch	IRGC Ground Forces
Years of service	1980–present
Rank	Brigadier General
Unit	Quds Force^[1]

Ahmad Vahidi (Persian: احمد وحیدی‎‎, born 27 June 1958) is an Iranian politician and former commander of the Revolutionary Guards.^[2] He was the minister of defense, having held the post from 3 September 2009 until 15 August 2013.

Early life and education

Vahidi was born on 27 June 1958 in Shiraz.^[3] His real name is Ahmad Shah Cheraghi (his nickname is Vahid).^[3]

He holds a bachelor's degree in electronics and a master's degree in industrial engineering.^[3] He received a PhD in strategic studies from Imam Sadegh University.^[4]

Career

Vahidi joined Revolutionary Guards in 1979.^[3] He was made deputy to the then Revolutionary Guards commander Mohsen Rezai for intelligence affairs in 1981.^[3] The same year he was also named commander of the Balaal base.^[3] In 1983, he joined the Quds Force, a unit of the Revolutionary Guards that is responsible for operations outside of Iran.^[3] He holds the rank of brigadier general.^[5]

Vahidi was appointed deputy minister of defense in 2005 when Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar became minister of defense.^[4] He was in office until 2009. In August 2009, he was appointed minister of defense by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and on 3 September 2009, the Majlis endorsed Vahidi as minister of defense with vote of 227 of 286.^[6] He received 79.3% of the votes of the members of the parliament. Vahidi's term ended on 15 August 2013 and Hossein Dehghan replaced him in the post.^[7]

Controversies

Vahidi has been wanted by Interpol since 2007 for his alleged participation in the bombing of the Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 18 July 1994, in which 85 people died.^[8]^[9] Vahidi was serving as the commander of a special unit of Iran's Revolutionary Guard known as the Quds Force when the attack occurred.^[8] He is one of five Iranians sought in the bombing. Iran denies that it was involved.^[10]

In June 2010, Vahidi was blacklisted by the U.S Government, a measure which is aimed at freezing the assets of proliferators of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their supporters thereby isolating them from the U.S. financial and commercial systems.^[11]

In May 2011, Vahidi paid an official visit to Bolivia.^[12] Upon this event in June 2011, Bolivia apologized to Argentina for Ahmad Vahidi visiting the country, and announced that he would be leaving the country immediately.^[13]

References

↑ "Behind the Headlines: Iran's terrorist defense minister". Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 23 August 2009. Retrieved 28 August 2009.
↑ "Iran defense minister a terror suspect". The Washington Times. 21 August 2009. Retrieved 23 August 2009.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Sahimi, Mohammad (1 August 2012). "The IRGC Strategic Brain Trust Part 1: Ghasem Soleimani and Ahmad Vahidi". PBS. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
1 2 "A Brief Biography of Iran's New Ministers". Payvand. 7 September 2009. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
↑ "Iran's ex-defense minister claims country is world's 6th missile power". Fox News (Tehran). AP. 18 August 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
↑ "Majlis endorses 18 ministers, one woman". Press TV. 3 September 2009. Retrieved 5 September 2009.
↑ Fulton, Will (7 August 2013). "Rouhani’s Cautious Pick For Defense Minister". Al Monitor. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
1 2 "Iran Parliament Approves Minister Wanted in Deadly Jewish Center Bombing". Fox News. AP. 3 September 2009. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
↑ "Argentina: More international arrest warrants issued for 1994 Jewish center bombimg". South American Political and Economic Affairs. 16 November 2007. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
↑ "Iran rejects as "baseless" Argentina's accusation it was involved in bombing". KUNA. 3 October 2010. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
↑ "U.S. Treasury Department Targets Iran’s Nuclear and Missile Programs". US Treasury Department. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
↑ Yapp (1 June 2011). "Iran defence minister forced to leave Bolivia over 1994 Argentina bombing". The Telegraph (São Paulo). Retrieved 24 August 2013.
↑ "Bolivia apologizes to Argentina for Iran minister visit". BBC News. Retrieved 1 June 2011.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ahmad Vahidi.

Political offices
Preceded by Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar	Minister of Defense 2009–2013	Succeeded by Hossein Dehghan

Defense and Armed Forces Logistics Ministers of Iran

Ahmad Madani Mostafa Chamran Mousa Namjoo Javad Fakoori Mohammad Salimi Mohammad Hossein Jalali Akbar Torkan Mohammad Forouzandeh Ali Shamkhani Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar Ahmad Vahidi Hossein Dehghan

Iranian military commanders

Achaemenid Empire	Ariobarzan Aryasb Artunis Abrocomes Amasis Datis Artaphernes Mardonius Megabazus Zopyrus Artemisia Mithridates Pantea Arteshbod Spithridates Tissaphernes Ferendatis Dadarsi Batis Rhoesaces Mithrenes Mazares Hydarnes Hydarnes II Megabyzus Merena Artaphernes

Parthian Empire	Surena Pacorus I Barzapharnes Quintus Labienus Sanatruces II of Parthia Sura of Parthia

Sassanian Empire	Rostam Farrokhzād Bahman Jadhuyih Hormozd Jadhuyih Aratius Bahram Gushnasp Jalinus Isfandyadh Hormuzan Mihran Bahram-i Chubin Simah-i Burzin Mardanshah Antonius Piruz Khosrow Mihr-Mihroe Azarethes Shahin Vahmanzadegan Adarmahan Tamkhosrau Varaz Vzur Bahrām Chobin Kardarigan (6th century) Kardarigan (7th century) Shahraplakan Rhahzadh Shahrbaraz Azad Peroz Apranik Nigan Banu Khorramdin Ashtat Yeztayar Babak Behruwan Muta of Dailam Izadgushasp Shahrvaraz Jadhuyih

Post-Islam	Babak Khorramdin Abu Muslim Abd-Allah Mikali Abi'l-Saj Devdad Hashim Tahir ibn Husayn Ya'qub Layth Saffari

Safavid Empire	Ahmad Sultan Afshar Prince Alexander of Kartli George XI of Kartli Rustam Khan e Sepahsalar Div Sultan Rumlu Giorgi Saakadze Paykar Khan Igirmi Durt Kaikhosro of Kartli Ganj Ali Khan Allahverdi Khan Undiladze Mihrab Khan Rostom-Khan Saakadze Rostom of Kartli Farhad Khan Qaramanlu Qarachaqay Khan Daud Khan Undiladze Husayn Beg Shamlu Abd al-Baqi Yazdi Durmish Khan Shamlu Najm e Sani Daud Khan Undiladze

Afsharid Empire	Nader Shah Reza Qoli Mirza Afshar Ebrahim Khan Afshar Givi Amilakhvari Heraclius II of Georgia Fath-Ali Khan Afshar Tahmasp Khan Jalayer Morteza Mirza Afshar (Nassrollah Mirza)

Qajar dynasty	Abbas Mirza Khosrow Khan Gorji Samson Makintsev Sardar Homayoun Prince Aleksandre of Georgia Amir Abdollah Tahmasebi Javad Khan Qajar Prince Teimuraz of Georgia

Pahlavi dynasty	Teymūr Khan Ayromlou Bahram Aryana Gholamali Bayandor Jafar Shafaghat Colonel Pessian Nader Jahanbani Ahmad Amir-Ahmadi Amanullah Jahanbani Karim Buzarjomehri Muhammad-Husayn Ayrom Fazlollah Zahedi Haji Ali Razmara Abbas Gharabaghi Gholam Reza Azhari Fereydoun Djam Amir Hossein Rabii Mahmud Khan Puladeen Mohammad Chamanara

Islamic Republic	Mohammad Jahanara Mahmoud Kaveh Qasem Soleimani Ali Sayad Shirazi Ahmad Keshvari Mohammad Ebrahim Hemmat Ahmad Motevaselian Ahmad Madani Hassan Shah-Safi Jalil Zandi Ahmad Kazemi Bahram Afzali Mohsen Rezaee Abbas Doran Hossein Kharrazi Ahmad Kazemi Mostafa Chamran Abbas Babaei Mohammad Hossein Jalali Mohammad Jamali-Paqaleh Javad Fakoori Ali Shahbazi Mohammad Salimi Ataollah Salehi Valiollah Fallahi Qasem-Ali Zahirnejad Ahmad Reza Pourdastan Mahdi Zein eddin Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam Mohammad Ali Allahdadi Hossein Dehghan Ahmad Vahidi Mostafa Mohammad Najjar Ali Shamkhani Hossein Hamadani

Category:Iranian generals

Cabinet of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (2005–2013)

Cabinet

Minister of Foreign Affairs	Manouchehr Mottaki (2005–2010) Ali Akbar Salehi (2010–2013)

Minister of Agriculture	Mohammad-Reza Eskandari (2005–2009) Sadeq Khalilian (2009–2013)

Minister of Communications and IT	Mohammad Soleimani (2005–2009) Reza Taghipour (2009–2013)

Minister of Labour and Social Affairs	Mohammad Jahromi (2005–2009) Reza Sheykholeslam (2009–2011)

Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance	Hossein Saffar Harandi (2005–2009) Mohammad Hosseini (2009–2013)

Minister of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics	Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar (2005–2009) Ahmad Vahidi (2009–2013)

Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance	Davoud Danesh-Jafari (2005–2008) Shamseddin Hosseini (2008–2013)

Minister of Education	Mahmoud Farshidi (2005–2007) Alireza Ali-Ahmadi (2007–2009) Hamid-Reza Haji Babaee (2009–2013)

Minister of Energy	Parviz Fattah (2005–2009) Majid Namjoo (2009–2013)

Minister of Health and Medical Education	Kamran Bagheri Lankarani (2005–2009) Marzieh Vahid-Dastjerdi (2009–2013) Hassan Tarighat-Monfared (2013)

Minister of Industries and Mines	Alireza Tahmasbi (2005–2007) Aliakbar Mehrabian (2007–2011)

Minister of Intelligence	Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i (2005–2009) Heydar Moslehi (2009–2013)

Minister of Interior	Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi (2005–2008) Ali Kordan (2008) Sadegh Mahsouli (2008–2009) Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar (2009–2013)

Minister of Justice	Jamal Karimi-Rad (2005–2006) Gholam-Hossein Elham (2006–2009) Morteza Bakhtiari (2009–2013)

Minister of Petroleum	Kazem Vaziri (2005–2007) Gholam-Hossein Nozari (2007–2009) Masoud Mir-Kazemi (2009–2011) Rostam Ghasemi (2011–2013)

Minister of Roads and Transportation	Mohammad Rahmati (2005–2008) Hamid Behbahani (2008–2011)

Commerce	Masoud Mir-Kazemi (2005–2009) Mehdi Ghazanfari (2009–2011)

Minister of Science, Research and Technology	Mohammad Mehdi Zahedi (2005–2009) Kamran Daneshjoo (2009–2013)

Minister of Welfare and Social Security	Parviz Kazemi (2005) Abdulreza Mesri (2005–2009) Sadegh Mahsouli (2009–2011)

Ministry of Cooperatives	Mohammad Ardakani (2005–2006) Mohammad Abbasi (2006–2011)

Ministry of Housing and Urban Development	Mohammad Saeedikia (2005–2009) Ali Nikzad (2009–2011)

Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports	Mohammad Abbasi (2011–2013)

Minister of Cooperatives, Labour and Welfare	Reza Sheykholeslam (2011–2013) Asadollah Abbasi (2013)

Minister of Industries and Business	Mehdi Ghazanfari (2011–2013)

Minister of Transportation and Housing	Ali Nikzad (2011–2013)

Cabinet-level

First Vice President	Parviz Davoodi (2005–2009) Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei (2009) Mohammad-Reza Rahimi (2009–2013)

Chief of Staff	Gholam-Hossein Elham (2005–2006) Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei (2009–2012) Mir-Hassan Mousavi (2012–2013)

Vice President and Head of Atomic Energy Organization	Gholam Reza Aghazadeh (2005–2009) Ali Akbar Salehi (2009–2010) Mohammad Ahmadian (2010–2011) Fereydoon Abbasi (2011–2013)

Vice President and Head of Cultural Heritage, Handcrafts and Tourism Organization	Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei (2005–2009) Hamid Baqai (2009–2011) Ruhollah Ahmadzadeh (2011–2012) Mir-Hassan Mousavi (2012) Mohammed Sharif Malekzadeh (2012–2013)

Vice President and Head of Environmental Protection Organization	Fatemeh Javadi (2005–2009) Mohammad-Javad Mohammadizadeh (2009–2013)

Vice President and Head of Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs	Hossein Dehghan (2005–2009) Masoud Zaribafan (2009–2007)

Vice President and Head of Management and Planning Organization of Iran	Farhad Rahbar (2005–2006) Amir-Mansour Borgheie (2006–2007)

Vice President for Supervision and Strategic Affairs	Amir-Mansour Borgheie (2007–2009) Ebrahim Azizi (2009–2012) Behrouz Moradi (2012–2013)

Vice President and Head of Physical Education Organization	Mohammad Aliabadi (2005–2009) Ali Saeidlou (2009–2011)

Vice President for Parliamentary and Legal Affairs	Seyyed Ahmad Mousavi (2005–2008) Majid Jafarzadeh* (2008) Mohammad-Reza Rahimi (2008–2009)

Vice President for Parliamentary Affairs	Mohammad Reza Mirtajodini (2009–2012) Lotfollah Forouzandeh (2012–2013)

Vice President for Legal Affairs	Fatemeh Bodaghi (2009–2013)

Vice President for Management and Human Resources Development	Lotfollah Forouzandeh (?–2012) Ebrahim Azizi (2012–2013)

Vice President and Head of National Elites Foundation	Parviz Davoodi (2005–2006) Sadegh Vaez-Zadeh (2006–2009) Nasrin Soltankhah (2009–2013)

Vice President and Head of National Youth Organization	Javad Haj Aliakbari (2005–2009) Mehrdad Bazrpash (2009–2010)

Vice President for Women and Family Affairs	Maryam Mojtahedzadeh (2013)

Vice President for Executive Affairs	Hamid Baqai (2011–2013)

* Acting

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