Iran's Khamenei representative Radai named secretary of Supreme National Security Council

TEHRAN, Iran — Mohsen Radai, the representative of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Iran's Supreme National Security Council, has been appointed secretary of the council following the resignation of Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr, Iranian media reported Thursday. Radai is one of the council members tasked with representing Khamenei, who holds final authority over the body's decisions. Zolqadr had served as secretary before stepping down, according to the same reports. In early August, Radai announced that Tehran had prepared plans to strike three locations in Ukraine after Kyiv attacked an Iranian vessel on the Volga River, adding that the plans were called off after Ukraine acknowledged the incident was a mistake. Last month, he said the Strait of Hormuz serves as one of Iran's deterrence tools and plays a decisive role in safeguarding national security and interests, adding that Iran would defend its security and interests through its defense capabilities and national power. No further details on the appointment or the circumstances of Zolqadr's resignation were immediately available.