Hossein Salami (born 1960 in Golpayegan, Isfahan province, Iran) is the Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the most powerful military and security force in Iran responsible for defending the regime and projecting its power abroad. He has held this position since 2019, having previously served as Deputy Commander (2009–2019), Commander of the IRGC Air Force (2005–2009), and Head of Operations at the IRGC Joint Staff (1997–2005). Salami joined the IRGC shortly after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and served as a combatant during the Iran-Iraq War. He is known for his aggressive rhetoric against the United States, Israel, and Saudi Arabia, and has been sanctioned by multiple international bodies and nations for his role in overseeing the IRGC's regional military operations, support for proxy militias, suppression of domestic dissent, and alleged destabilizing activities across the Middle East.