# Alireza Tangsiri ## Early Life and Background Alireza Tangsiri, born in 1962, is an Iranian naval officer who rose through the ranks to become the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) in 2018. His career spans decades of service in Iran's naval forces, marked by significant roles during the Iran-Iraq War and subsequent leadership positions. ## Military Career ### Key Positions - **Naval Brigade Commander** during the Iran-Iraq War - **Head of IRGCN 1st Naval District** in Bandar Abbas - **Commander of IRGCN** since August 23, 2018, appointed by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei ### Notable Statements and Actions - **2007**: Threatened to chase U.S. forces to the Gulf of Mexico if they clashed with Iran - **2013**: Asserted that Israelis are Jews and Americans are Christians, citing Quranic teachings - **2016**: Described the detention of 10 U.S. sailors as