Iran loses key leaders — Who from Khamenei's circle was killed in US and Israeli strikes
Photo: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (Getty Images)
As a result of a series of massive airstrikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian territory, key representatives of the country’s top political and military leadership were eliminated. Among those killed were Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Reuters reports.
Death of the Supreme Leader
According to the report, the most severe blow to the Islamic regime was the death of 86-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had led the country continuously since 1989.
He was killed on February 28 as a result of a precise strike on his residence in Tehran. His decades-long rule was based on total control of the security apparatus and systemic hostility toward the United States and Israel.
Elimination of military leadership
On the same day, during a wave of airstrikes on the Iranian capital, a group of high-ranking security officials was killed.
In particular, the deaths of IRGC Commander-in-Chief Mohammad Pakpour and Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh were confirmed.
Also among the victims were Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Abdolrahim Mousavi and influential Khamenei adviser Ali Shamkhani, who played a key role in matters related to the nuclear program.
New losses in March
The operation continued in March 2026, when other influential figures were targeted. On March 17, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani was killed in the Pardis area along with his son.
On the same day, the commander of the Basij paramilitary force, Gholamreza Soleimani, was also killed. The latest confirmed loss is Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib, whose death was reported today, March 18.
Fate of Iran’s new leader
The successor to the late ayatollah became his son, Mojtaba Khamenei.
As previously reported by RBC-Ukraine, the new Supreme Leader survived a strike on his bunker only by chance, while his entire family was killed.
It later emerged that due to his injuries, Mojtaba Khamenei was secretly transported to Moscow. He is currently undergoing treatment at one of the residences of Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, where he underwent emergency surgery.
