Hossein Taeb

Hossein Taeb (born 1963) is an Iranian Shia cleric and a senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) official who is the commander of the Basij paramilitary unit. He was formerly head of the Intelligence Organization of the IRGC. He was also involved in other controversial activities, such as: involvement in the "chain murders" of Iranian intellectuals in the 1990s, and targeting of Iranian dissidents abroad, including assassinations.

In public statements Taeb cautioned Iranians that the United States was "hiring agents and mercenaries in an effort to continue its plots for a soft overthrow of the Islamic Republic," according to the Iranian Fars news agency. Taeb has also stated that the post-election "anti-government riots" "killed eight members of the Basij and wounded 300 others."

In 2022, he and his family members were sanctioned by the US Department of State for his involvement in human rights violations in Iran.

Taeb was dismissed from his position as head of Intelligence of the IRGC in June 2022. This is speculated to be due to an incident where an alleged Iranian operation to attack Israeli tourists in Turkey was outed, resulting in the arrest of the agents and a diplomatic spat with Turkey, as well as other incidents that suggested successful Israeli spy operations that Taeb failed to prevent. The dismissal also coincided with the arrest of Brigadier General Ali Nasiri on suspicion of spying for Israel.

On 10 August 2026, Taeb was appointed commander of the Basij, four years after former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei dismissed him as head of the IRGC Intelligence Organization. The appointment came amid uncertainty over Mojtaba Khamenei's status, with unconfirmed reports questioning whether he remains alive.

Offices , the list of his responsibilities included: Deputy Culture of Joint Staff of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander department of Culture of Imam Hossein University Commander of the Basij from 29 October 2007 to 2009 Head of the Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from October 2009 to June 2022 Commander of the Basij since 10 August 2026

Personal life Taeb lost a brother in the Operation Karbala-5 during the Iran–Iraq War. He is married with three children. because "forces under his command participated in mass beatings, murders, detentions and tortures of peaceful protestors."