Mohammad Reza Ashtiani

Brigadier General Mohammad Reza ASHTIANI is Iran’s Minister of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics.

Associated entities: Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL)

Position(s): Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces

Mohammad-Reza Gharaei Ashtiani has been the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces since August 2024. He was the Minister of Defence of the Islamic Republic of Iran (August 2021-August 2024) and was responsible for the EU-listed Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL). MODAFL is responsible for the planning, logistics and funding of Iran’s Armed Forces. It is also a key player in Iran’s defence industry with multiple conglomerates and subordinates active in research and development, maintenance and manufacturing of military equipment, including the manufacturing of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). MODAFL is also involved in the set-up of a joint plant for the production of UAVs and the sale of UAVs to Russia intended for use in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. In his function as Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Mohammad-Reza Gharaei Ashtiani coordinates and oversees the conventional army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and is a close associate of the Supreme Leader of Iran. As he oversees the IRGC, this also includes the IRGC Aerospace Force, responsible for Iran’s UAV program. He is thus in a supervising role for both the missile and the UAV program. In his role, he is also supporting Iranian military cooperation with Russia. As Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Mohammad-Reza Gharaei Ashtiani is directly involved in Iran’s UAV and missile programmes and is involved in transferring Iran’s UAVs to Russia in support of its war of aggression against Ukraine.

Associated entities: Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL)

Mohammad-Reza Gharaei Ashtiani has been the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces since August 2024. He was the Minister of Defence of the Islamic Republic of Iran (August 2021-August 2024) and was responsible for the EU-listed Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL). MODAFL is responsible for the planning, logistics and funding of Iran’s Armed Forces. It is also a key player in Iran’s defence industry with multiple conglomerates and subordinates active in research and development, maintenance and manufacturing of military equipment, including the manufacturing of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). MODAFL is also involved in the set-up of a joint plant for the production of UAVs and the sale of UAVs to Russia intended for use in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. In his function as Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Mohammad-Reza Gharaei Ashtiani coordinates and oversees the conventional army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and is a close associate of the Supreme Leader of Iran. As he oversees the IRGC, this also includes the IRGC Aerospace Force, responsible for Iran’s UAV program. He is thus in a supervising role for both the missile and the UAV program. In his role, he is also supporting Iranian military cooperation with Russia. As Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Mohammad-Reza Gharaei Ashtiani is directly involved in Iran’s UAV and missile programmes and is involved in transferring Iran’s UAVs to Russia in support of its war of aggression against Ukraine.

Associated entities: Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL)

Entités associées: Ministère de la défense et du soutien logistique aux forces armées (MODAFL) - Mohammad-Reza Gharaei Ashtiani est le ministre de la défense de la République islamique d’Iran depuis août 2021 et est donc responsable du ministère de la défense et du soutien logistique aux forces armées (MODAFL), une entité inscrite sur la liste de l’UE. Le MODAFL est responsable de la planification, de la logistique et du financement des forces armées iraniennes. Il s’agit également d’un acteur clé de l’industrie iranienne de la défense, avec de nombreux conglomérats et entités subordonnées actifs dans la recherche et le développement, la maintenance et la fabrication d’équipements militaires, y compris la fabrication de véhicules aériens sans pilote (UAV). Le MODAFL participe également à la mise en place d’une usine commune pour la production d’UAV et à la vente d’UAV à la Russie en vue de leur utilisation dans la guerre d’agression menée par la Russie contre l’Ukraine. En tant que ministre de la défense, Ashtiani est directement impliqué dans le programme iranien d’UAV et dans le transfert d’UAV iraniens à la Russie à l’appui de la guerre d’agression que celle-ci mène contre l’Ukraine.

The Director Disqualification Sanction was imposed on 09/04/2025.

(also MOHAMMED REZA GHARAYI ASHTIANI)

(also MOHAMMAD-REZA ASHTIANI)

Iranian military officer