Ahmad-Reza Radan

Sardar

Ahmad-Reza Radan
Born1963 (age 62–63)
Isfahan, Pahlavi Iran
AllegianceIran
BranchRevolutionary Guards
Police Command of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Service years1982–
Rank Brigadier general
ConflictsIran–Iraq War (WIA)

Ahmad-Reza Radan (Persian: احمدرضا رادان; born 1963) is an Iranian military officer who has served as Iran's Chief of police, the chief commander of the Police Command of the Islamic Republic of Iran since January 2023. He is known for pursuing the implementation of Islamic Sharia law and for the surpression of the 2009 Iranian protests.[1]

He was deputy commander of the Police Command of the Islamic Republic of Iran[2] and Tehran's police chief, infamous for his crackdown on "un-Islamic" hair and dress styles.[3]

He headed the Iranian police during the 2025-2026 Iran protests in which between 30,000 to 35,000 protestors were killed by Iranian security forces.[4][5][6]

Career

Radan started his career as a member of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards during the Iran–Iraq War. Radan held various posts in the Islamic Republic of Iran Police (IRIP), including police commander of Razavi Khorasan Province.[1]

Radan is widely recognized for his strict enforcement of the Islamic dress code, efforts to combat drug trafficking, and crackdown on gang activity. He previously held top police posts in several key regions, including Kurdistan Province, Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Khorasan Province, and Tehran Province, the latter being Iran’s most strategically significant province.[7]

In 2007, in commanding the morality police of Tehran he said "police will start early next week a drive against women who wear improper dress."[8] He said that "Tight trousers tucked inside long boots while wearing short overcoats are against Islamic codes," as well as "Wearing a hat or cap instead of scarves is also against Islamic dress codes."[8] He also called for the arrest of boys with "perverted hairstyle."[9] He also provided the morality police vehicles.[1]

In 2009, he opposed and surpresssed the Iranian Green Movement and was sanctioned by the United States, and, later, the European Union for human rights abuses.[10][1] He called to crush the protestors, calling them "bastards." He also told his police to "ruthlessly and proceed to take them all out. Quash them and then take the remaining to Kahrizak prison to give them what they deserve,” in regard to the protestors.[11]

The United States has designated Radan as a person who is, "among other things, responsible for or complicit in, or responsible for ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing, the commission of serious human rights abuses against citizens of Iran or their family members."[9]

He was the head of Iranian police during the 2025-2026 Iranian protests in which it is estimated between 30,000 to 35,000 protestors were killed by Iranian security forces.[4][5][6]

In march 2026, Radan said protestors who in his view are protesting for the enemy will be treated as an enemy.[12]

Public Security Plan and Moralization Campaign

In 2007, Radan launched a "Public Security Plan". The police arrested dozens of "thugs" to increase public security. These individuals were sometimes beaten on camera in front of neighborhood inhabitants, or forced to wear hanging watering cans used for lavatory ablutions around their necks.[13]

Among those arrested was Meysam Lotfi, a young Iranian who had previously been arrested during the Iran student riots in July 1999 and jailed for six months. According to his parents, he has never had any criminal record or background of illegal activities and had never been arrested or jailed before, except for the 1999 riots.[14][15][16][17] Lotfi was listed for execution, a sentence that was later changed to a three-year prison sentence after media coverage and the efforts of his parents, as well as human rights activists.[18] His former lawyer was Abdolfattah Soltani.[14][19][20]

Syria

In 2011, Radan traveled to Damascus to support Syrian security services in their crackdown on protests in Syria.[21][22]

Disappearance

On 19 May 2024, Radan disappeared in the Tehran's Narmak neighborhood. Rumours alleged that he was killed in an armed attack. An Ahmed Reza Radan had claimed to be alive on 29 May although his whereabouts are still unknown.[23][24]

A year later, he reappeared on live TV on occasion of the 13 June attacks.

Sanctions

In October 2010, the United States Treasury Department sanctioned Radan for human rights violations. According to their statement, Radan, while serving as deputy commander of the police force, was responsible for the beatings, murders, and detentions of protesters during the protests following the 2009 Iranian presidential election.[25]

On 13 April 2011, Radan was sanctioned by the European Union for widespread and severe violations of the rights of Iranian citizens, and for a series of murders.  According to the EU statement, he, as deputy commander of the police force, was involved in "beatings", "murders", "arbitrary detentions," and "arrests of protesters" by the police during the 2009 post-election protests.[26]

On 18 September 2024, the Canadian government sanctioned Radan, in addition to four other officials of the Islamic Republic who are directly responsible for implementing oppressive and discriminatory policies against women, girls, and minorities. The sanctions regulations prohibit transactions with the listed individuals, freeze their assets in Canada, and make any immigration to Canada of these individuals prohibited and inadmissible under Canadian immigration law.[27][28]

Radan claimed that being sanctioned by the US and EU was an honor for himself and all military commanders. He stated that "becoming a martyr and being sanctioned are equally enjoyable" to him. Radan views these sanctions as a "badge of honor", comparing them to an honorary medal for serving the Islamic Republic.[29]

2025-2026 protests

Following the 2025-2026 Iranian protests, the massacres and Internet blackout, he stated on 19 January 2026 that those protestors that were “deceived” into taking part in the demonstrations, or “riots” as the government defines them, have three days to turn themselves in.[30]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d "Explainer: Who is Ahmad Reza Radan, Iran's new police chief with a brutal past?". The New Arab. 16 January 2026.
  2. ^ "رادان از جانشینی فرمانده پلیس "کنار گذاشته شد" - فردا". رادیو فردا. رادیو فردا. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 2014-05-27.
  3. ^ "Iran cracks down on 'unIslamic' dress". Archived from the original on 2007-07-18. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
  4. ^ a b Kay Armin Serjoie; Roxana Saberi; Fatemeh Jamalpour (25 January 2026). "Iran Protest Death Toll Could Top 30,000, According to Local Health Officials". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Wikidata Q137884558. Archived from the original on 25 January 2026.
  5. ^ a b "Disappeared bodies, mass burials and '30,000 dead': what is the truth of Iran's death toll?". The Guardian. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  6. ^ a b "Over 36,500 killed in Iran's deadliest massacre, documents reveal". Iran International. 25 January 2026. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  7. ^ "Ahmad-Reza Radan: Commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran's Law Enforcement Command". UANI. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  8. ^ a b "Iran police to crack down on winter fashions". NBC News. 2007-12-01. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  9. ^ a b "Report to Congress: List of Persons Who Are Responsible for or Complicit in Certain Human Rights Abuses in Iran". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
  10. ^ Farda, RFE/RL's Radio. "Iran's Leader Appoints Hard-Line Police Chief Blacklisted By U.S. For Rights Abuses". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  11. ^ Stevenson, Struan (2023-02-07). "IRAN APPOINTS RUTHLESS POLICE CHIEF ⋆ Scottish Conservatives European Parliament". Scottish Conservatives European Parliament. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  12. ^ "Iran taking steps to prevent anti-establishment protests, Tehran residents tell BBC". www.bbc.com. 2026-03-16. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  13. ^ Thug” Crackdown Operation on way in Iran (ROOZ :: English) Archived October 7, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ a b "shahrzadnews.org". Archived from the original on 2016-01-21. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
  15. ^ "بازداشت مادر و خواهر ميثم لطفي، يكي از متهمان طرح امنيت اجتماعي". کمیتـه گزارشـگران حقـوق بشـر. Archived from the original on 2011-11-19. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
  16. ^ "همه زندانیان بازداشتگاه (سیاهچال) "سوله کهریزک" بیمارند و 8 تن از آنان در اثر شکنجه، عفونت زخم ها، گرسنگی و بیماری جان سپردند". Archived from the original on 2016-01-21. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
  17. ^ "۳۰۰ نفر از اهالی محل به بی آزاری میثم لطفی شهادت دادند". ایرانیان انگلستان. 2025.
  18. ^ "shahrzadnews.org". Archived from the original on 2016-01-21. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
  19. ^ "www.roshangari.net". Archived from the original on 2010-08-11. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
  20. ^ [1]
  21. ^ "Institute for the Study of War". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 2022-03-25. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  22. ^ "Treasury Sanctions Syrian, Iranian Security Forces for Involvement in Syrian Crackdown". U.S. Department of the Treasury. 2023-11-15. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  23. ^ "Iran's police commander has disappeared". Gunaz. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  24. ^ "The police commander has been missing for 5 days". en.axar.az.
  25. ^ "Treasury Sanctions Iranian Security Forces for Human Rights Abuses". U.S. Department of the Treasury. 2025-02-08. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  26. ^ "concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons, entities and bodies in view of the situation in Iran". 12 April 2011.
  27. ^ "Canada Imposes New Sanctions on Iran". Mirage News. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  28. ^ Government of Canada, Public Works and Government Services Canada (2024-10-09). "Canada Gazette, Part 2, Volume 158, Number 21: Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations". gazette.gc.ca. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  29. ^ "Infamous Iranian Police Chief Welcomes Sanctions as 'Honor'". www.iranintl.com. 2023-11-09. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  30. ^ "Iran police chief issues surrender ultimatum over 'riots'". 2026.
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