Rezaei Joins Iran Security Council as Hormuz Talks Near 60-Day Mark

Iran appointed former Revolutionary Guard commander Mohsen Rezaei as the Supreme Leader's representative to the Supreme National Security Council on Aug. 9, a move that could harden Tehran's negotiating stance as Strait of Hormuz talks near a 60-day deadline.

"The council will not retreat, whether in war or in negotiations," Mohammad Baqer Zolghadr, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, said in a message marking Iran's national Journalists' Day.

The appointment comes as Iran's Supreme National Security Council issued demands for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, including a permanent end to the war, lifting the US naval blockade, withdrawal of US forces from the region, compensation for war damage, lifting sanctions, and unconditional release of frozen assets. The waterway carried roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments before the conflict began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28.

The 60-day period to negotiate a final deal under the June memorandum of understanding ends in just over a week. If no agreement is reached, the strait could remain restricted, keeping energy prices elevated and sustaining global inflationary pressures.

Rezaei, one of the longest-serving commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, previously served as secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council, an advisory body to the supreme leader. His appointment to represent Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on the security council places a figure with deep military ties at the center of Iran's national security decision-making.

Conflicting reports from Iranian news agencies on Saturday left unclear whether Rezaei's appointment replaced Zolghadr as secretary or added a new layer to the council's leadership. The semi-official Fars News Agency initially reported Rezaei had been named secretary, replacing Zolghadr, but later clarified the item had been posted by users of its interactive platform rather than by its journalists. The official Islamic Republic News Agency subsequently published a message from Zolghadr identifying him without qualification as secretary.

The leadership transition follows an unusual period of turnover at the top of Iran's security establishment, which has lost several senior figures during the war with the United States and Israel. Leadership of the country passed to Mojtaba Khamenei after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in joint US-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28. The younger Khamenei has made no public appearances since taking office, communicating only through written statements, which has fueled speculation about his condition and whereabouts.

Hormuz Negotiations at a Crossroads

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Saturday that Tehran and Oman are "very close" to an agreement on a new temporary shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz. However, he said reopening the strait depends on separate conditions, including US compensation to Iran for what Tehran describes as violations of the June memorandum of understanding.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has taken a harder line. IRGC spokesperson Sardar Mohebi said the strait will reopen only after the United States "fully" accepts Iran's conditions, and that the issue is separate from negotiations with Oman. The IRGC considers the waterway a key part of Iran's "geographical and strategic power."

The stakes are significant for global energy markets. Abu Dhabi National Oil Company reported that 15 of its vessels have been struck in what it described as unprovoked attacks while transiting the strait since the conflict began, killing one crew member and injuring 20 others. The UAE said Saturday that another ADNOC-affiliated carrier was hit by a missile while transiting the waterway.

US Vice President JD Vance said Washington is working with Iran to establish a safe route for commercial shipping while seeking to maximize oil and gas flows through the strait. "We don't trust. We verify," Vance said, adding that Washington would judge Iran by its actions rather than its words.

A 60-Day Clock on Global Energy Flows

The last time the Strait of Hormuz faced sustained disruption was during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, when the "Tanker War" led to US naval escorts and international military intervention. The current conflict has already pushed energy prices higher and added to inflationary pressures across major economies.

The 60-day negotiation window under the June memorandum of understanding expires in just over a week, though it could be extended. If no deal is reached, the strait could remain restricted, keeping oil prices elevated and sustaining inflationary pressures. The US has indicated it will continue its pressure campaign if Tehran does not agree to what Washington considers necessary.

Rezaei's appointment to the security council could influence how Iran approaches these negotiations. As a former IRGC commander with deep ties to the military establishment, his presence on the council may strengthen the hardline faction that has resisted diplomatic engagement with Washington.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.