Ahmad Vahidi
Encyclopedia
Ahmad Vahidi is an Iran
ian politician and former commander of the Revolutionary Guards. He is the current Minister of Defense of Iran
, having held the post since August 9, 2009.
. In 1980 he joined the Quds Force, a unit of the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution that responsible for operations outside of Iran. His real name is Ahmad Shah Cheraghi (his nickname is Vahid). He was born in Shiraz.
for his alleged participation in the bombing of the Jewish community center in Buenos Aires
, Argentina
, on July 18, 1994, in which 85 people died. He is one of five Iranians sought in the bombing. Iran denies that it was involved.
In June 2011 Bolivia apologized to Argentina for Ahmad Vahidi visiting the country, and announced that he would be leaving Bolivia immediately .
became Minister of Defense. He was in office until 2009. In August 2009 he was designated Minister of Defense
by President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and on August 9, 2009, the Majlis endorsed Vahidi as Minister of Defense with vote of 227 of 56. He received 79.3% of the votes of the Member of Parliament
s.
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian politician and former commander of the Revolutionary Guards. He is the current Minister of Defense of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, having held the post since August 9, 2009.
Early life
He was born on June 28, 1947, in MashhadMashhad
Mashhad , is the second largest city in Iran and one of the holiest cities in the Shia Muslim world. It is also the only major Iranian city with an Arabic name. It is located east of Tehran, at the center of the Razavi Khorasan Province close to the borders of Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. Its...
. In 1980 he joined the Quds Force, a unit of the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution that responsible for operations outside of Iran. His real name is Ahmad Shah Cheraghi (his nickname is Vahid). He was born in Shiraz.
Controversies
He is wanted by InterpolInterpol
Interpol, whose full name is the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL, is an organization facilitating international police cooperation...
for his alleged participation in the bombing of the Jewish community center in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, on July 18, 1994, in which 85 people died. He is one of five Iranians sought in the bombing. Iran denies that it was involved.
In June 2011 Bolivia apologized to Argentina for Ahmad Vahidi visiting the country, and announced that he would be leaving Bolivia immediately .
Political career
Vahidi was appointed as Deputy Minister of Defense in 2005 after Mostafa Mohammad-NajjarMostafa Mohammad-Najjar
Mostafa Mohammad Najjar is the current Interior minister of Iran since August 9, 2009. He was Minister of Defense in the first cabinet of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from 2005 to 2009. He is a veteran of the Revolutionary Guards .-Early life:...
became Minister of Defense. He was in office until 2009. In August 2009 he was designated Minister of Defense
Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics
The Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics is the defence ministry of the Islamic Republic of Iran. It was formed in 1989 and has control both over Iran's regular forces and over its Revolutionary Guard, particularly bringing the latter under the overall defence umbrella by reducing its...
by President
President of Iran
The President of Iran is the highest popularly elected official in, and the head of government of the Islamic Republic of Iran; although subordinate to the Supreme Leader of Iran, who functions as the country's head of state...
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and on August 9, 2009, the Majlis endorsed Vahidi as Minister of Defense with vote of 227 of 56. He received 79.3% of the votes of the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
s.