After 19 days of intense conflict in the Middle East, the Iranian regime can count on one hand the leaders still alive. The attack by the Israeli Army led to the death of several senior officials: Ismail Khatib, Ali Larijani and Aziz Nasirzadeh.
The United States and Israel have carried out an unprecedented offensive against the leadership of Iran, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Which Iranian leaders have died?
“Targeting” by the United States and Israel began on February 28, considered the first day of Epic Fury. After Khamenei’s death, the campaign continued with a series of bombings targeting key regime officials. In total, at least a dozen central figures of the regime have been killed. Among the main leaders eliminated are:
- Ali Khamenei, supreme leader of the Iranian regime: After holding the top position of the regime for 37 years, he was killed by the American Army on February 28. He was in charge of bringing together political and religious power, controlling the main institutions of the State, the Armed Forces and foreign policy.
- Alí Larijani, head of the National Security Council and key figure in the political system: He was considered the strong man of the regime after the death of the supreme leader, being responsible for the country’s main security body. His death was confirmed by the Israeli army on March 17.
- Gholamreza Soleimani, leader of the Basij militia, used for internal control: He commanded the Basij paramilitary forces, one of the five branches of the Revolutionary Guard created in 1980 as a parallel army. Soleimani had been sanctioned on multiple occasions by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and Canada for human rights violations. He was eliminated on March 17.
- Esmail Jatib, Minister of Intelligence, considered a key player in internal repression and foreign operations: One of the most influential people within the Iranian security apparatus. He was appointed Intelligence Minister in 2021 and has since been responsible for the repression of mass protests and aggressive foreign operations.
- Abdolrahim Mousavi, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces: After Mohammad Bagheri, his predecessor, was killed in the Israeli air strikes in 2025, he became Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces. He was another of those killed by the Iranian leadership in the airstrikes of February 28.
- Aziz Nasirzadeh, Minister of Defense, and other senior military officials: Veteran of the Iran-Iraq war. It played a key role in the military planning and defense policy of the Iranian regime. He died in the attack on February 28.
What is known after Khamenei’s death?
Khamenei’s death has seriously weakened the regime’s power. According to US intelligence sources, the Iranian political system is still standing, although with a much more fragile structure.
Power has passed to his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has vowed to continue the confrontation and avenge the attacks. Since he was named supreme leader on March 8, he has not been seen. Nobody knows where it is or what state it is in. In fact, practically nothing is known about his life, nor has he given interviews or speeches.
The Iranian Executive assures that Khamenei is well and that he is active, carrying out his duties as head of state, although he has acknowledged that he was injured during the bombing that killed his father.
These days all kinds of theories have been spread, such as that Khamenei has been transferred to Moscow to receive medical assistance or that he is in a coma in a hospital in Tehran. At the moment, his whereabouts are unknown.
