Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naini, spokesperson for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was reportedly killed in a terrorist attack, according to Iranian state media.
IRGC Spokesperson Confirmed Dead
Tasnim, an Iranian military-affiliated news agency, reported that Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naini died a “martyr’s death” in a “criminal, cowardly terrorist attack.” Israel has not confirmed these reports.
Naini’s Statements and Sanctions
Ali Mohammad Naini previously addressed Donald Trump, challenging him directly. He had served as the army spokesperson since 2024. Following Iran’s October 1, 2024, missile attack on Israel, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on Naini.
Recent Challenge to Trump
Naini was killed hours after responding to U.S. President Trump’s remarks about the potential destruction of the Iranian naval fleet. He questioned if Trump would “send its ships to the Persian Gulf, if you dare,” and affirmed that Iran’s missile industry remains operational.
Series of Iranian Official Deaths
This follows a series of deaths of high-ranking Iranian officials. On February 28th, attacks by the United States and Israel reportedly resulted in the deaths of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, IRGC Commander Mohammad Pakpour, and security advisor Ali Shamkhani.
Recent Eliminations by Israel
On March 17th, Israel announced the “elimination” of Ali Laridjani, head of Iran’s Security Council and close aide to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Golamreza Soleimani, commander of the Basij paramilitary organization, was also killed in the attacks.
Further Attacks and Israeli Confirmation
On March 18th, Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz reported the death of Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatiba in an attack on Tehran. This death is considered a significant blow to Iran’s central security apparatus.
Authorization to Target Iranian Officials
Israel’s Defense Minister also stated that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu authorized the military to kill “high-ranking Iranian officials” without prior approval.