A wave of coordinated airstrikes by the United States and Israel has reportedly wiped out several top figures in Iran, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as the conflict enters its third week.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran is “being decimated,” while the Israeli military described the country’s leadership structure as a “house of cards that is collapsing.”
Despite the heavy losses, Iran has continued to show resilience, quickly appointing replacements and sustaining its military operations.
Among those reported killed in the strikes are:
– Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei
Khamenei, who had led Iran since 1989, was reportedly killed in the opening hours of the war on February 28 during a strike on a high-level meeting in Tehran. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, is said to have survived and assumed leadership, though he has yet to appear publicly.
– National Security Council Chief Ali Larijani
Ali Larijani, a longtime power broker, was reportedly killed on March 17 in a strike near Tehran.
– Revolutionary Guards Commander-in-Chief Mohammad Pakpour
Mohammad Pakpour, who had only assumed the role in 2025, was killed on the first day of the war. He has since been replaced by Ahmad Vahidi.
– Senior Adviser Ali Shamkhani
Ali Shamkhani, a veteran security figure, was also killed early in the conflict after previously surviving an earlier strike.
– Intelligence Minister Esmael Khatib
Esmael Khatib was reportedly killed in a strike in Tehran on March 18.
– Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh
Aziz Nasirzadeh, a veteran of the Iran-Iraq war, was among those killed in initial attacks.
– Basij Commander Gholamreza Soleimani
Gholamreza Soleimani, head of the paramilitary Basij force, died in an airstrike on March 17.
– Revolutionary Guards Spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini
Ali Mohammad Naini was killed in a dawn strike on Friday, described by Iranian forces as a “cowardly” attack.
– Military Office Chief Mohammad Shirazi
Mohammad Shirazi, responsible for coordinating security forces under the supreme leader, was killed at the start of the war.
– Armed Forces Chief of Staff Abdolrahim Mousavi
Abdolrahim Mousavi, who had only recently assumed office, was also among those killed in early strikes.
The scale of the losses marks one of the most significant blows to Iran’s political and military leadership in decades. However, authorities in Tehran have continued to project stability, replacing key officials and maintaining military operations amid the ongoing conflict.
