Yahya Rahim Safavi
SAFAVI, Yahya Rahim (a.k.a. AL-SIFAWI, Yahya Rahim; a.k.a. RAHIM SAFAWI, Yahia; a.k.a. RAHIM-SAFAVI, Yahya; a.k.a. SAFAVI, Rahim; a.k.a. YAHYA RAHIM-SAFAVI, Seyyed; a.k.a. YAHYA SAFAVI, Sayed); DOB circa 1952; POB Esfahan, Iran; Additional Sanctions Information - Subject to Secondary Sanctions (individual) [NPWMD] [IRGC] [IFSR]. -to- SAFAVI, Yahya Rahim (a.k.a. AL-SIFAWI, Yahya Rahim; a.k.a. RAHIM SAFAWI, Yahia; a.k.a. RAHIM-SAFAVI, Yahya; a.k.a. SAFAVI, Rahim; a.k.a. YAHYA RAHIM-SAFAVI, Seyyed; a.k.a. YAHYA SAFAVI, Sayed); DOB circa 1952; POB Esfahan, Iran.
The perception of the US as the bully on the block was only exacerbated by the 2003 invasion of Iraq. According to the Commander of the Islamic Republic Guard Corps (IRGC) Brigadier-General Yahya Rahim-Safavi in 2003: "The occupation of Iraq by the Americans was the most significant contemporary global development next to the victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran…. The Americans can be the harbingers of great revolutionary developments, and unprecedented changes in this whole region with their presence in Iraq." [IRNA, September 15, 2003]
Safavi further stated that the Americans are "harbingering political change inside Iran through launching a psychologicaldiplomatic war from abroad, and this is a test-study for them… [They are r]uining the legitimacy of the revolution, creating a deep gap between the people and the system, instigating social unrest throughout the country, exerting outside pressure simultaneously with occasional troubles inside, and alienating Iran at the intentional scenes, and finally, if all those policies fail, probable military threat (sic) are in the US agenda for Iran."
Commander of Islamic Revolution's Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi said 15 April 2006 that any threat against Iran would endanger security of the whole region, US forces in particular. "Iran's security is equal to the security of the whole region and in case any insecurity befalls on Iran it will cause insecurity for all, American forces in particular."
The Guard’s growing political assertiveness became more evident in its poor relations with president Khatami. Viewing his reform agenda as a danger to revolutionary pillars, IRGC commander Safavi made thinly veiled threats: “I have made the supreme leader Khamenei aware that there is a new form of hypocrisy disguised by the clergy. . . . Some of them should be beheaded or have their tongues torn out,” and “When I see conspirator cultural currents, I give myself the right to defend the revolution and my commander, the esteemed Leader, has not prevented me.” Yahya Rahim Safavi was named in the annex of UNSCR 1737 as the Commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the UNSC listed him as the involved in both Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. the Iran-Iraq War solidified the Islamic revolution, which had largely spent its ideological fervor. Yet for many of Iran’s current leaders who fought in the war, such as Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and IRGC commander Yahya Rahim Safavi, the war remains their primary formative geopolitical experience. It shaped the “self-help” approach to Iran’s national security and solidified its sense of being strategically alone in a dangerous world.
On September 1, 2007, Safavi was replaced as IRGC Commander and appointed as advisor and senior aide for armed forces affairs to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. Supreme Leader Khamenei named Brigadier General Mohammad Ali Jafari to replace Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi as head of the IRGC 01 September 2007 and promoted him to major general. Khamenei appointed Safavi as his advisor for military affairs. In a subsequent press interview, Safavi noted it was the first time the Supreme Leader has appointed a military commander as an advisor.
Two separate groups had been working for Safavi's ouster. One was a group internal to the IRGC which reportedly differed with Safavi over how the IRGC was being administered (NFI). This group included 11 commanders, of which Jafari was the most significant one, and was supported by former IRGC head Mohsen Rezaie, now secretary of the Expediency Council. The second, external group was reportedly led by Deputy Interior Minister for security affairs Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr, formerly deputy IRGC commander, considered ultra-right wing. This group reportedly had political differences with Safavi and thought he was too moderate.
One apparent cause of friction between Safavi and Zolqadr was Zolqadr's alleged continued dominance over the Qods Force, as well as the IRGC counter-intelligence unit. Zolqadr, before moving to the Interior Ministry, reportedly put his own people in both organizations and retains significant influence over both organizations. The Ramazan Force, led by Zolqadr, operated inside Iraq during the Iran-Iraq war but was no longer in existence. Zolqadr and his group were backing hardline cleric Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi to be the next Supreme Leader but did not have sufficient power to try to effect a change.
Jafari and Zolqadr are not close and belong to different groups, but they are not enemies, like Safavi and Zolqadr. One area in which Jafari and Zolqadr did not agree is reportedly Zolqadr's support for IRGC business activities.
By 2014 the Supreme Leader’s closest advisors, such as Deputy Chief of Staff Asghar Mir-Hejazi, former IRGC commander and military advisor Yahya Rahim Safavi, and Supreme Council for National Security Chairman Ali Shamkhani had explained that severe budget cuts had negative impact on the ability of Iran to conduct overseas operations. This had taken a particularly heavy toll on the IRGC Qods Force, which has the largest role in Iran’s external resistance mission.
Iran had obtained accurate information showing that US transfers ISIS terrorists to Afghanistan, Major General Yahya Safavi, a top military adviser to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said 05 February 2019.
General Safavi added, "The governments of Syria and Iraq demanded Iran's help and with measures advised by Ayatollah Khamenei and Iranian military's advisory assistance to Syria, the terrorists couldn't reach their goals and the coalition of Iran, Russia and Lebanon's Hezbollah, accompanied with attempts by Afghan forces could defeat the coalition of US and the Zionist regime with some Arab countries".
"With the plots of Americans, Zionists and some Arab states, more than 100,000 ISIS insurgents invaded the Syrian and Iraqi nations and they intended to come for Iran after Syria and Iraq to claim caliphate in Khorasan, they had even determined an Amir for it. It was US, Israel and UK that established ISIS' intelligence services. Now we have accurate information showing that US transfers ISIS' terrorists to Afghanistan," General Safavi said.
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