Key Iranian Officials Killed in US-Israel Strikes
News Desk
Islamabad: US President Donald Trump has claimed that joint US-Israeli strikes have killed at least 48 key Iranian figures, asserting that Iran’s leadership structure has been “decimated” and that several officials are now seeking to surrender.
Iranian state media, including Islamic Republic News Agency, have confirmed over the past two days that multiple senior officials were killed in the attacks.
Among them was Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly martyred in strikes carried out on Saturday.
According to official reports, Khamenei, 86, was killed alongside members of his family, including his daughter, son-in-law, and 14-year-old granddaughter.
Also reported among the casualties was Ali Shamkhani, the 70-year-old Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and a close adviser to Khamenei. Shamkhani had previously overseen nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington and had survived a targeted Israeli strike during the 12-day Iran-Israel conflict in June 2025.
Read More: https://thepenpk.com/iran-confirms-death-of-khamenei-in-us-israel-strikes/
He was one of Iran’s longest-serving senior officials, having led the council for over a decade following the tenure of former President Hassan Rouhani.
Iran’s Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Abdolrahim Mousavi, who was appointed to the role last June by Khamenei, was also reported killed.
Mousavi had previously served as Commander-in-Chief from 2017 to 2025 and played a key role in the development of Iran’s ballistic missile, drone, and space launch programs. He had faced international sanctions over allegations of human rights violations during the November 2019 domestic protests.
Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, who served under President Massoud Pezeshkian, was initially reported dead. However, subsequent updates clarified that earlier reports of his death were incorrect.
Another prominent figure reportedly killed was Mohammad Pakpour, who had been appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) last year.
Pakpour began his military career during the 1980s Iran-Iraq War and later led the IRGC ground forces for 16 years, overseeing major operational headquarters.
Read More: https://thepenpk.com/khamenei-power-behind-six-iranian-presidencies/
Following the strikes, Iranian state television announced that a temporary three-member council will assume leadership responsibilities.
The council comprises President Pezeshkian, Supreme Court Chief Justice Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei, and a jurist from the Guardian Council.
Additionally, senior religious figure Ali Reza Arafi has been assigned to the council to carry out the duties of the Supreme Leader until a formal successor is appointed.
The situation marks a dramatic escalation in regional tensions, with global observers closely monitoring developments amid fears of wider instability across the Middle East.
