Ali Shamkhani (September 1955) is a two-star general. He is the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran.Shamkhani was born on 29 September 1955 in Ahvaz, Khuzestan. His family is of persian Arab origin. Before the Revolution, Shamkhani was member of a clandestine Islamist guerilla group named Mansouroun (lit. ’The Victors’), engaging in armed struggle against the Pahlavi dynasty. After the revolution, he joined the Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization.
Before and during the early years of the 1979 revolution, he was involved in militant/revolutionary activity: he joined underground Islamist-guerilla groups opposed to the Shah. Following the 1979 revolution, Shamkhani joined the military-revolutionary apparatus. He served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and rose through its ranks. As SNSC secretary, Shamkhani played a significant role in foreign-policy and security posture — including nuclear discussions, regional strategy, and relations with Arab neighbours.
