Iranian leaders killed as Israeli-US war raises regime change question

The war’s opening blows decapitated much of Iran’s ruling establishment, killing supreme leader Ali Khamenei and sweeping away a senior layer of the Islamic republic’s political and military command in US-Israeli strikes.

US President Donald Trump said yesterday the conflict had delivered “regime change” and that “we’re dealing with different people than anybody’s dealt with before”.

Yet several prominent officials remain alive, and the Islamic republic has moved quickly to fill vacant posts while continuing its fight against the US and Israel.

In the latest confirmed death, Alireza Tangsiri, the Revolutionary Guards naval commander whom Israel said oversaw the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz, died from wounds suffered in an Israeli strike on Thursday, according to the Guards.

Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the strike that started the war

Iran’s top authority since 1989, Mr Khamenei was killed within the first hour of the war on 28 February when a strike hit a meeting of senior officials in Tehran, reports said. His daughter-in-law, daughter and at least one grandchild were also reported killed.

His son Mojtaba, long known as a low-profile figure, survived the attack, though reports said he was injured, and assumed the role of supreme leader.

He has not yet appeared in public.

Ali Khamenei has still not been buried, although Mojtaba said in a written statement that he saw the body.

Security chief Ali Larijani

Security chief Ali Larijani

The death of Mr Larijani, a central figure in the system for decades despite not being a cleric, was likely the heaviest blow to the Islamic republic after Ali Khamenei’s killing.

Mr Larijani was killed on 17 March in an Israeli strike, reportedly in the Tehran region, that also killed members of his family.

Only a week earlier, he had made a defiant public appearance at a pro-government rally in Tehran.

Revolutionary Guards chief Mohammad Pakpour

Revolutionary Guards chief Mohammad Pakpour

Previously the head of the Guards’ ground forces, Mr Pakpour became commander-in-chief in June 2025 after his predecessor, Hossein Salami, was killed during Israel’s 12-day war against Iran.

He was killed on the war’s first day and replaced by former interior and defence minister Ahmad Vahidi.

Guards naval chief Alireza Tangsiri

A veteran of the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war, Mr Tangsiri had been one of the Guards’ longest-serving senior commanders, leading its navy since 2018 and serving as one of its most recognisable public figures inside the Islamic republic.

Israel’s defence minister described him as the “man who was directly responsible for the terrorist operation of mining and blocking the Strait of Hormuz”.

Adviser Ali Shamkhani

Adviser Ali Shamkhani was killed on the first day of the war

Mr Shamkhani, a fixture in the Islamic republic’s armed forces since the 1980s, was killed in an airstrike on the first day of the war.

He was given a public funeral in Tehran’s Tajrish Square and was reportedly buried without his head.

He had been badly wounded, and initially reported dead, in a strike during Israel’s June war against Iran before later resurfacing.

Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib

Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib

A cleric, Mr Khatib was killed in an Israeli strike in Tehran early on 18 March.

As Iran’s intelligence minister since 2021, rights groups had accused him of playing a major role in the suppression of protests.

Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh

Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh

A veteran of the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, Mr Nasirzadeh had served as defence minister since 2024.

He, too, was killed in a strike on the war’s opening day.

Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani

Leader of the Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani

Mr Soleimani led the Basij, the volunteer paramilitary force that operates under the Revolutionary Guards and is widely condemned by rights groups for crushing protests.

He was killed in an airstrike on 17 March.

Guards spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini

Mr Naini was killed at dawn on Friday in what the Guards called a “cowardly” attack by the United States and Israel.

Shortly before his death was confirmed, the Fars news agency published a statement quoting Mr Naini as saying Iran’s missile production deserved a “perfect score” and was continuing despite the war.

Head of military office Mohammad Shirazi

Brigadier General Mohammad Shirazi (centre)

Killed on the first day of the war, Mr Shirazi held the critical role of coordinating among the different branches of Iran’s security forces from the office of the supreme leader.

Armed forces chief Abdolrahim Mousavi

Armed forces chief Abdolrahim Mousavi

Mr Mousavi was also killed on the first day of the war. He had only assumed the post in June 2025, taking over the senior role that coordinates between the Guards and the regular army after his predecessor, Mohammad Bagheri, was killed in the 12-day war.