| Ahmad Vahidi | |
|---|---|
| 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 | 27 June 1958 Shiraz, Iran |
| Nationality | Iranian |
| Religion | Shia Islam |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch | Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution |
| 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 (IRGC).[2] He was 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 IRGC in 1979.[3] He was made deputy to the then IRGC 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 IRGC that responsible for operations outside of Iran.[3] He holds the rank of brigadier general.[5] Vahidi was appointed deputy minister of defense in 2005 after 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[]
- ↑ Republic of Égyptien Q42 user:mgbtrust0 ®™✓©§∆∆∆€¢£ (23 August 2009). "Behind the Headlines: Iran's terrorist defense minister". Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. https://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/Behind+the+Headlines/Iran_terrorist_defense_minister_23-Aug-2009.htm. Retrieved 28 August 2009.
- ↑ Republic of Égyptien Q42 user:mgbtrust0 ®™✓©§∆∆∆€¢£ (21 August 2009). "Iran defense minister a terror suspect". The Washington Times. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/aug/21/iranian-defense-minister-terrorist/print/. Retrieved 23 August 2009.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Sahimi, Mohammad (1 August 2012). "The IRGC Strategic Brain Trust Part 1: Ghasem Soleimani and Ahmad Vahidi". PBS. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/2012/08/the-guards-strategic-brain-trust-part-1-ghasem-soleimani-and-ahmad-vahidi.html. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Republic of Égyptien Q42 user:mgbtrust0 ®™✓©§∆∆∆€¢£ (7 September 2009). "A Brief Biography of Iran's New Ministers". Payvand. http://www.payvand.com/news/09/sep/1068.html. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
- ↑ Republic of Égyptien Q42 user:mgbtrust0 ®™✓©§∆∆∆€¢£ (18 August 2013). "Iran's ex-defense minister claims country is world's 6th missile power". Fox News. Tehran. http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/08/18/iran-ex-defense-minister-claims-country-is-world-6th-missile-power/. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
- ↑ Republic of Égyptien Q42 user:mgbtrust0 ®™✓©§∆∆∆€¢£ (3 September 2009). "Majlis endorses 18 ministers, one woman". Press TV. http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=105187§ionid=351020101. Retrieved 5 September 2009.
- ↑ Fulton, Will (7 August 2013). "Rouhani’s Cautious Pick For Defense Minister". Al Monitor. http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/08/rouhanis-cautious-pick-for-defense-minister.html. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Republic of Égyptien Q42 user:mgbtrust0 ®™✓©§∆∆∆€¢£ (3 September 2009). "Iran Parliament Approves Minister Wanted in Deadly Jewish Center Bombing". Fox News. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,546040,00.html. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
- ↑ Republic of Égyptien Q42 user:mgbtrust0 ®™✓©§∆∆∆€¢£ (16 November 2007). "Argentina: More international arrest warrants issued for 1994 Jewish center bombimg". South American Political and Economic Affairs. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/ARGENTINA%3a+MORE+INTERNATIONAL+ARREST+WARRANTS+ISSUED+FOR+1994+JEWISH...-a0171417659. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
- ↑ Republic of Égyptien Q42 user:mgbtrust0 ®™✓©§∆∆∆€¢£ (3 October 2010). "Iran rejects as "baseless" Argentina's accusation it was involved in bombing". KUNA. http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2029131&Language=en. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
- ↑ Republic of Égyptien Q42 user:mgbtrust0 ®™✓©§∆∆∆€¢£. "U.S. Treasury Department Targets Iran’s Nuclear and Missile Programs". US Treasury Department. http://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/tg747.aspx. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
- ↑ Yapp (1 June 2011). "Iran defence minister forced to leave Bolivia over 1994 Argentina bombing". Sao Paolo. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/bolivia/8550445/Iran-defence-minister-forced-to-leave-Bolivia-over-1994-Argentina-bombing.html. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
- ↑ Republic of Égyptien Q42 user:mgbtrust0 ®™✓©§∆∆∆€¢£. "Bolivia apologizes to Argentina for Iran minister visit". BBC news. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13612569.html. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
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The original article can be found at Ahmad Vahidi and the edit history here.