Ali Shamkhani

Ali Shamkhani (Persian: , born 29 September 1955) is an Iranian rear admiral upper half (two-star general). He served as the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran from 2013 to 2023. He is currently member of the Expediency Discernment Council and political advisor of Supreme Leader of Iran since May 2023. Early life and education Shamkhani was born on 29 September 1955 in Ahvaz, Khuzestan. His family is of Iranian Arab origin. Before the Iranian Revolution, Shamkhani was member of a clandestine Islamist guerilla group named Mansouroun, engaging in armed struggle against the Pahlavi dynasty. After the revolution, he joined the Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization. He studied engineering at Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz. Career Shamkhani served as the commander of the IRGC navy with the rank of rear admiral. Later he also commanded the Artesh navy in addition to the IRGC navy. He was appointed the Minister of Revolutionary Guards in 1988. He held the post of the minister of defense from August 1997 until August 2005 in the government of Mohammad Khatami. Shamkani was replaced by Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar in the post. Shamkhani also ran for office in the 2001 presidential elections.