Ali Azmaei (; also romanized Ozmaei) is an Iranian military officer who has served as the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGC Navy) since July 2026. He succeeded Alireza Tangsiri, who was killed during the 2026 Iran war. Before his appointment, Azmaei had commanded the IRGC Navy's Fifth Naval Region for about thirteen years.
Military career Azmaei began his military service during the Iran–Iraq War with the IRGC's Hormozgan corps, and later joined the IRGC Navy. From the mid-2000s he served as chief of staff and coordinating deputy of the , and from 2010 to 2012 as its deputy commander.
In November 2012 he was appointed the first commander of the newly formed , headquartered at Bandar Lengeh on the Persian Gulf. The region's area of responsibility extends from Qeshm to Kish and includes the Tunb and Abu Musa islands. He held the command for about thirteen years, one of the longest tenures at that level in the force. During this period he was frequently the public face of Iranian vessel seizures in the Strait of Hormuz. In March 2022 he was promoted from second brigadier general to full brigadier general (sartip).
In 2025 Azmaei became deputy commander of the IRGC Navy. Following the assassination of Alireza Tangsiri during the 2026 Iran war, he was appointed commander of the IRGC Navy on 4 July 2026.
Sanctions Azmaei has been subject to U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctions since 2019, when the United States designated several senior IRGC Navy commanders.
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