A former military commander, Vahid Haghanian is acting as an executive deputy for the Supreme Leader and usually accompanies the Supreme Leader on social engagements." In the early days after the 1979 Islamic Revolution Haghanian is said to have been a member of the pro-revolution Islamic Republican Party, which was finally disbanded in 1987. He is known by some as Sardar [Commander] Vahid, although Hussein Sazvar, a well-known eulogist close to Khamenei's office, has publicly stated he is "not a commander." Despite this, Savzar went on, had Haghanian not been present in the Leader’s apparatus “wolves would have opened their mouths" to "swallow Khamenei... he is protecting Mr. [Khamenei] like a tiger, a leopard."
