Mohsen Rezaee
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| Mohsen Rezaee | |
|---|---|
| September 1954 | |
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| Place of birth | Masjed Soleyman, Kouzestan, Iran |
| Allegiance | IRGC |
| Years of service | 1981 - 1997 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Unit | Infantry |
| Commands held | IRGC Chief Commander |
| Battles/wars | Iran–Iraq War |
| Other work | Secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council of the IRI |
Mohsen Rezaee Mirgha'ed (also spelt Mohsen Rezai[1], Persian: محسن رضایی میرقائد, born Sabzevar Rezaee Mirgha'ed[citation needed] in 1954, Masjed Soleyman, Khuzestan), is an Iranian politician, economist and former military commander, currently the Secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Before that, Rezaee was the AGIR Chief Commander for 16 years.
He was a candidate for the presidency in the 2009 Iranian elections, as a conservative.[2]
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[edit] Education
While studying mechanical engineering at Iran University of Science and Technology before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Rezaee switched to economics after the Iran–Iraq War, studying at Tehran University, where he continued until 2001, when he received his Ph.D. in 2001.
He co-founded Imam Hossein University and currently teaches there.
[edit] AGIR career
Rezaee became Chief Commander of the AGIR in 1981, when he was only 27 years old, and remained in the post until 1997, when he left the military forces for the Expediency Discernment Council, where he became the Secretary and the Chair of the Commission for Macroeconomics and Commerce.
[edit] Alleged involvement in 1994 AMIA bombing
In November 2006, Argentine Judge Rodolfo Canicoba Corral issued international arrest warrants for Rezaee, six other Iranians and one Lebanese in connection with the July 18, 1994, a suicide bombing of the Jewish cultural center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, which resulted in the murder of 85 people and serious injuries to 151.[1] The attack on the Jewish cultural center came two years after the 1992 terrorist bombing of the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires. In 1998, Rezaee's son, Ahmad Rezaee, defected to the United States, where he told officials that the attack on the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires was planned in Tehran. The son told U.S. authorities that he had accompanied his father to Lebanon to witness the training.[1] Ahmad Rezaei returned to Iran after a short time and declared that his statements about his father's involvement in the bombing was baseless.[3] Mohsen Rezaei is currently on the official Wanted list of Interpol, for allegations of "crimes against life and health, hooliganism, vandalism and damage" related to the 1994 AMIA bombing case.[4][5]
Rezaei has always rejected the allegations. "These charges were a sheer lie.", he told the Los Angeles Times in June 2009. [6]
[edit] Opposition
Rezaei stated that the ongoing trials of so called 'prisoners' was an injust act. He is close to Hashemi Rafsanjani and the Reformist movement[citation needed]. On August 2 2009 Rezaei issued a letter on behalf of the Expediency Council of which he is the secretary, condemning the regime.[7] Rezai is a strong backer of both minsters which were recently sacked.
[edit] Media influence
Rezaee is closely associated with the news website http://www.tabnak.ir.[8][9]
[edit] Presidential campaigns
Rezaee was a candidate of the Iranian presidential election of 2005, but withdrew on June 15, 2005, only two days before the election. Rezaee mentioned he is withdrawing from the race for "the integration of the votes of the nation" and "their effectiveness". He did not endorse any candidate.[10]
On April 23, 2009, he announced that he has entered the 2009 Iranian presidential election race, after trying to find another conservative to run against President Ahmadinejad. [2]
Rezaee is critical of Mr Ahmadinejad's comments about the Holocaust and Israel and stated that his questioning of the Holocaust has "no benefit."[11]
[edit] Personal life
His father's name was Najaf (نجف). Rezaee has five children, two sons and three daughters. One of his sons, Ahmad Rezaee, has migrated to the United States, has spoken against the policies of the Iranian Islamic government, and accused his father and others of supporting terrorist acts. He reportedly has since returned to Iran.[1]
He is currently banned from entering the United States and the EU.
[edit] See also
[edit] References & notes
- ^ a b c d Stephens, Brett, "Iran's al Qaeda", Stephens' "Global View" column, editorial pages, The Wall Street Journal, October 16, 2007; Page A20
- ^ a b "Ex-Leader of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Seeks Presidency"
- ^ Mohsen Rezaei, A closer look
- ^ Wanted profile on Interpol website
- ^ Interpol press release
- ^ [1]
- ^ ilna.ir (dead link)
- ^ "Iran Leans on Shiite Leader Muqtada Sadr". Newsmax.com. 2009-04-15. http://www.newsmax.com/timmerman/shiite_Muqtada_Sadr/2008/04/15/88245.html. Retrieved 2009-06-03.
- ^ "Iran: Did Ahmadinejad use Saberi in attempt to score diplomatic coup?". eurasianet. 2009-05-19. http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insightb/articles/eav051909c.shtml. Retrieved 2009-06-03.
- ^ Iranian Student News Agency
- ^ [2]
[edit] External links
 |
Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Mohsen Rezaee |
- Rezaee Official Website (in Persian)
- Tabnak news website closely associated with Rezaee (in Persian)
- ISNA interview with Sara Rezaee, Rezaee's daughter
- Mohsen Rezai: America Destroyed All Our Enemies in the Region
- U.S. Is Using "Porcupine Strategy" against Iran. The U.S. Decision to Confront Iran Has Already Been Made
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Incumbent |
Chief commander of AGIR 1981- 1997 |
Succeeded by Yahya Rahim Safavi |
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