BREAKING: Khamenei, Larijani… Who are the Iranian leaders killed during the conflict?
World News Update:
International observers are closely monitoring the latest developments as new information continues to emerge.
Since the start of the war launched by the United States and Israel, Iranian power has been hit hard, without falling. The strikes on Iran have killed many senior political and military officials, foremost among them Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, number one in Iranian power for thirty-seven years. Donald Trump boasted in March of having obtained a “regime change”, a month after the launch of his offensive with Israel, but the Islamic Republic demonstrated its ability to cope and quickly replace the killed leaders. While the end of the war was announced on the night of Sunday to Monday by Donald Trump and the regime in place in Tehran, here is a summary of the key figures of Iranian power killed since February 28.The Supreme GuideSupreme Guide Ali Khamenei was killed on the first day of the war, February 28, during a strike on Tehran which also cost the lives of several members of his family. His son Mojtaba, although injured, succeeded him, but he has not yet appeared in public. Ali Khamenei must be buried on July 9 in Mashhad, his hometown, after a two-day national tribute in Tehran then on July 7 in the holy city of Qom. The head of Iranian security The death of Ali Larijani, pillar of Iranian power, is probably the heaviest loss suffered by the Islamic Republic after that by Ali Khamenei. He was killed on March 17, along with other members of his family, during an Israeli strike apparently in the Tehran region.The leader of the Revolutionary GuardsKilled on the first day of the war, Mohammad Pakpour, former head of the Guardians’ ground forces, had led the ideological army of the Islamic Republic since June 2025. He then succeeded Hossein Salami, killed during Israel’s 12-day war against Iran. He was replaced by former Interior and Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi. Navy Commander Veteran of the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War, Alireza Tangsiri was one of the longest-serving figures in the Guards command, leading its navy since 2018. Israel claims to have killed him, along with other senior officers. Advisor to the Supreme Leader Ali Shamkhani, pillar of the armed forces for years 1980, was also killed on the first day of the war. He was given a public funeral in Tehran. Intelligence Minister Esmaïl Khatib was killed by an Israeli strike in Tehran on March 18. In his post since 2021, he was accused by human rights organizations of having played a key role in the repression of mobilizations against power. The Minister of Defense Holder of the Defense portfolio since 2024, Aziz Nasirzadeh, veteran of the Iran-Iraq war, was also killed in a strike on the first day of the war. The commander of the BassijAt the head of this paramilitary group, which brings together volunteers particularly mobilized against the demonstrations hostile to the authorities, Gholamreza Soleimani, was killed in a strike on March 17. Guards spokesperson Ali-Mohammad Naini was killed in what the Guards called a “cowardly” attack by the United States and Israel. Just before his death was confirmed, the Fars news agency quoted Ali-Mohammad Naini as saying that Iran’s missile production deserved “perfect grade” and continued despite the war. The head of Supreme Leader’s military office Mohammad Shirazi was killed on the first day of the war. He had the crucial task of coordinating the different branches of the security forces within the supreme leader’s office. Our file on the War in the Middle East The chief of staff of the armed forces Abdolrahim Mousavi, killed on the first day of the war, had only held his post since June 2025, after the death of his predecessor Mohammad Bagheri during the 12-day war.
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Source: This article was originally published by 20Minutes – Actu Monde and adapted for our international English-speaking audience.
Read the original article here.