WASHINGTON, 02 March. - (ANA) - US President Donald Trump announced the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in coordinated US-Israeli strikes inside Iran, with Iranian state television confirming his death on Sunday.

 

However, the operation also killed many senior military and security officials, marking one of the most significant blows to the Islamic Republic’s leadership since 1979.

 

On Sunday, Trump said Sunday that 48 Iranian leaders have been killed in the US-Israeli bombardments of the country and that the offensive is "very positive".

 

"Nobody can believe the success we're having, 48 leaders are gone in one shot. And it's moving along rapidly," Trump told Fox News.

 

While Trump's claim of "48 leaders" cannot be verified, Iranian media said the strikes targeted a high-level leadership gathering.

 

 

They killed figures across Iran’s political, military and intelligence command structure and created an unprecedented leadership vacuum.

 

The New Arab looks into who these officials are and the positions they held within the regime. 

 

 

 

 

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, had led Iran as Supreme Leader since 1989. As the highest authority in the Islamic Republic, he oversaw the armed forces, judiciary, security services and overall state policy.

 

Born in Mashhad in 1939, he rose through clerical and revolutionary ranks before succeeding Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

 

Over more than three decades, he shaped Iran’s domestic direction and foreign policy posture, including its regional alliances and strategic doctrine.

 

 

 

 

Ali Shamkhani, an ethnic Arab born in 1955 in Ahvaz, was a senior security official and former defence minister.

 

A long-time member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), he later served as Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council from 2013, placing him at the centre of Iran’s defence and strategic decision-making. He was widely regarded as one of the most influential security figures in the system.

 

 

 

 

Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, born in 1960 in Qom, served as Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces.

 

With a background in artillery and decades of military service, he had been appointed to the top military post in June 2025, placing him at the head of Iran’s conventional forces.

 

 

 

 

Mohammad Pakpour was appointed commander of the IRGC in June 2025 after the death of his predecessor.

 

A career Guard officer with a doctorate in geopolitics, he previously led the IRGC’s ground forces and special units. He had been subject to US and European sanctions due to his senior role within the Guard.

 

 

 

 

Salah Asadi headed the intelligence department within Iran’s military emergency command and was considered one of the senior intelligence officers in the armed forces. He was considered a key orchestrator in shaping Iran’s strategic posture toward Israel and the US.

 

 

 

 

Aziz Nasirzadeh has served as Iran’s defence minister since August 2024.

 

He previously held senior posts including Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces and commander of the air force, playing a role in overseeing defence policy and military coordination.

 

 

 

 

Brigadier General Mohammad Shirazi led the military office of the Supreme Leader since 1989 and was responsible for coordinating between senior armed forces commanders and Khamenei.

 

 

 

 

Hossein Jabal Amelian is reported to have overseen naval industries within the IRGC, contributing to the development of maritime capabilities.

 

 

 

 

Reza Mozafari Nia, a senior IRGC commander and former head of the SPND organisation, was also reported killed.

 

The SPND, known as the Organisation of Defensive Innovation and Research in English, operates under Iran’s defence ministry and is involved in advanced defence research and development.

 

Western governments have sanctioned the body, alleging links to past nuclear-related research, claims Iran denies.   - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/03 March 2026 - - -