A look at the background of IRGC Intelligence Organization Chief Mohammad Kazemi, who was killed in an Israeli strike
On Thursday, June 23, 2022, Brigadier General Mohammad Kazemi was appointed as the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Intelligence Organization by IRGC commander Hossein Salami. Now, two days after Salami’s death, the IRGC has confirmed that Mohammad Kazemi, along with his deputies, was killed in an Israeli strike. Kazemi had replaced Hossein Taeb in 2022.
Who is Brigadier General Mohammad Kazemi?
State-run media have made little mention of Mohammad Kazemi’s background, as he was never meant to be a public figure. In reality, he had served since 2009 as the head of the IRGC’s Protection and Intelligence Organization—a body focused on internal affairs of the IRGC, rather than external operations. For this reason, Kazemi was not a well-known figure even within regime media, which also lacked consensus over publishing his photos.
Mohammad Kazemi, also known as “Sardar Kazem,” was a senior security figure within Iran’s regime and a former head of the IRGC Protection and Intelligence Organization. He was known for playing key roles in the regime’s intelligence and security structure, especially in surveillance operations, suppression of dissent, and extraterritorial missions.
In a leaked audio recording from IRGC command meetings, his name was repeatedly mentioned by then-IRGC commander Mohammad Ali Jafari and his deputy Sadegh Zolghadrnia using the code name “Kazem”—a detail highlighting his influential position in high-level security decision-making.
Sanctions
In response to the regime’s violent crackdown following the death of Mahsa Amini and the 2022 uprising, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Department of State sanctioned Mohammad Kazemi on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, along with 13 other regime officials and three affiliated institutions. These sanctions froze all assets under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibited all financial dealings between them and U.S. citizens or companies.
The New Zealand government also sanctioned Kazemi on December 12, 2022, for his role in suppressing protests. The sanctions ban him from entering or temporarily residing in New Zealand.
Kazemi’s Role in IRGC Intelligence and U.S. Sanctions Over Hostage-Taking
In another move, on Thursday, April 27, 2023, the United States sanctioned Mohammad Kazemi along with several other senior IRGC members for their involvement in the unlawful detention of U.S. citizens abroad. This action was aimed at countering the Iranian regime’s hostage-taking policy used to gain political leverage.
The heads of the IRGC’s Protection and Intelligence Organization rarely appear in public, and it is extremely difficult to find photos or detailed media coverage of them.
What is the IRGC Protection and Intelligence Organization?
There are three distinct and independent organizations within the IRGC:
- IRGC Intelligence Organization
2. IRGC Protection Organization
3. IRGC Protection and Intelligence Organization
All three IRGC bodies operate directly or indirectly under the supervision of regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei and the IRGC commander.
IRGC Intelligence Organization
This organization was established after the 2009 election and reports directly to Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran’s regime.
IRGC Protection Organization
This organization is led by IRGC Brigadier General Ali Asghar Gorjizadeh and is responsible for protection and security—not intelligence. Sometimes referred to as the “Protection Corps,” it is in charge of safeguarding key individuals and sensitive locations, as well as ensuring security for civilian flights.
IRGC Protection and Intelligence Organization
The Protection and Intelligence arm of the IRGC was established in 1983 and rapidly expanded.
This intelligence-focused body operates independently from the IRGC General Command and answers directly to Khamenei.
It functions as the IRGC’s internal security unit and is tasked with countering espionage within the force, preventing infiltration by dissident elements, blocking the leakage of classified information, and conducting political and security oversight over IRGC commanders and personnel.
The head of this organization is selected from among individuals trusted by Khamenei and is appointed or dismissed by order of the IRGC commander-in-chief.
