Yahya Rahim Safavi

Sardar
Seyyed
Yahya Safavi
یحیی صفوی
Safavi in 2018
Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
In office
19 September 1997 – 10 September 2007
PresidentMohammad Khatami
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Supreme LeaderAli Khamenei
Preceded byMohsen Rezaee
Succeeded byMohammad Ali Jafari
Deputy Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
In office
24 September 1989 – 10 September 1997
PresidentAkbar Hashemi Rafsanjani
Mohammad Khatami
Supreme LeaderAli Khamenei
Preceded byAli Shamkhani
Succeeded byMohammad Bagher Zolghadr
Commander of the IRGC Ground Forces
In office
17 September 1985 – 24 September 1989
PresidentAli Khamenei
Prime MinisterMir-Hossein Mousavi
Supreme LeaderRuhollah Khomeini
Ali Khamenei
Preceded byOffice Established
Succeeded byMostafa Izadi
Personal details
Born1952 (age 73–74)
Isfahan, Iran
Awards Fath grade 1
Fath grade 1
Fath grade 2
Military service
Allegiance Iran
Branch/service IRGC
Years of service1979–present
Rank Major general
Battles/wars

Yahya "Rahim" Safavi (Persian: یحیی «رحیم» صفوی, born 1952) is an Iranian military commander who served as the chief commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.[1][2] Currently, Safavi is serving as a senior military advisor to the leader of the Islamic revolution. Additionally, he has assumed the role of head of Defense and Security Commission within the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations.[3]

Early life

Safavi was born in 1952 in the city of Isfahan, Iran,[1][2] to a Persian family.[4]

Career

Safavi was one of the leaders of the Iran–Iraq War.[5] During the US-led invasion of Afghanistan, he played a key role in the uprising in Herat in November 2001, where American, Iranian and Northern Alliance troops supported a local uprising against the Taliban.

He served as the deputy commander of Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps until 1997 when he was appointed its commander, replacing Mohsen Rezaee in 1997.[6]

He was replaced as commander of the IRGC by Mohammad Ali Jafari, former director of the Strategic Studies Center of the IRGC on 1 September 2007.[7] Then he was appointed by the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei as his special military advisor.[8]

Political views

Safavi is a leading advocate of the so-called "Axis of Resistance", which includes Hezbollah, Hamas, and Iran-backed militias in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.[9] He argued that this network has already dealt strategic blows to Israel and has the potential to reshape the region's geopolitical future. According to Safavi, Israel has been "defeated by the Resistance," and he emphasizes that the liberation of Palestine will only be achieved through persistent armed struggle.[10][11]

On Apr 7, 2024, Safavi opined that Hamas is an idea and an ideal that cannot be destroyed.[12] During his speech at the 6th International Conference of Solidarity with Palestinian Youth, Safavi praised Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel, describing it as a "glorious" operation.[13][14]

Asset freeze

On 24 December 2006, Rahim Safavi was included on a list of Iranian individuals and organizations sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1737 due to their alleged involvement in the Iranian nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.[15]

Controversy regarding family members

On 18 February, it was reported that Australia had granted permanent residency and health qualifications to Hanieh Safavi, Yahya Rahim Safavi's, drawing criticism from members of the Iranian diaspora and opposition lawmakers.[16][17]

See also

  • List of Iranian two-star generals since 1979

References

  1. ^ a b "Seyyed Yahya Safavi". tasnimnews.com. 30 January 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Seyyed Yahya Rahim". basirat.ir. 30 January 2019.
  3. ^ "Leader picks Gen. Safavi for membership in Strategic Council on Foreign Relations". Tehran Times. 1 January 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  4. ^ The Case Against Iran (2008). Charles Raymond Snow. Trafford Publishing. ISBN 9781425175962.
  5. ^ Safavi, Karbala 5 Operation iribnews.ir Retrieved 31 January 2019
  6. ^ Rubin, Michael (Fall 2008). "Iran's Revolutionary Guards – A Rogue Outfit?". Middle East Quarterly. XV (4): 37–48. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  7. ^ Sepehri, Vahid (4 September 2007). "Iran: New Commander Takes over Revolutionary Guards". Radio Free Europe. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  8. ^ Frederic Wehrey; Jerrold D. Green; Brian Nichiporuk; Alireza Nader; Lydia Hansell; Rasool Nafisi; S. R. Bohandy (2009). "The Rise of the Pasdaran" (PDF). RAND Corporation. Retrieved 20 August 2013.
  9. ^ "Axis of Resistance | Groups, Countries, Map, Leaders, Middle East, Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, Syria, & Houthi | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 14 May 2025. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  10. ^ ""Resistance" strategy gaining more strength: Gen. Safavi". Mehr News Agency. 27 September 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  11. ^ "Iran backs large-scale Palestinian operation against Israel". Modern Diplomacy. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  12. ^ "Zionist embassies not safe anymore: Safavi". Mehr News Agency. 7 April 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  13. ^ "Iran backs large-scale Palestinian operation against Israel".
  14. ^ Weinthal, Benjamin (7 October 2023). "Iran-funded terror proxies launch war against Israel amid surprise invasion against Jewish state". Fox News. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  15. ^ "Security Council imposes sanctions on Iran for failure to halt uranium enrichment, unanimously adopting Resolution 1737". United Nations. Archived from the original on 18 May 2012.
  16. ^ Dowling, James (18 February 2026). "Australian residency granted to daughter of sanctioned Iranian military leader". The Australian. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  17. ^ "Australia grants residency to daughter of sanctioned Iranian military adviser". Iran International. 18 February 2026. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
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