List of Iranian leaders killed since the start of the war: mapping the collapse of the power structure

Since the beginning of the Israeli-American military operations against Iran on February 28, the regime in Tehran has faced what can be described as a “complete decapitation of its leadership.”

The strikes have targeted all political, military, and security levels, from the Supreme Leader down to field and intelligence commanders.

Official data released by both Israeli and Iranian sides revealing a list of assassinations among top-tier leadership. The losses are distributed across five strategic circles as follows:

First: the top leadership and sovereign decision-making
These figures are considered the “brain of the regime” and are responsible for major strategic directions.

• Ali Khamenei
  Supreme Leader, at the top of the hierarchy and holder of absolute authority, primarily responsible for foreign policy, military planning, and funding regional proxies.
• Ali Larijani
  Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, the de facto strongman who managed security and international relations after Khamenei’s death.

Second: the senior military leadership (General Staff and Defense)
Responsible for managing regular armed forces and planning offensive operations, particularly missile strikes.

• Abdolrahim Mousavi
  Chief of Staff, regarded as the top figure in the military establishment, overseeing ballistic missile attacks and overall national security management.
• Aziz Nasirzadeh
  Minister of Defense, responsible for military production, armament, and logistical support for the armed forces.
• Majed Ben Al-Rida
  New Minister of Defense, appointed as successor to Nasirzadeh.

Third: commanders of strike forces (Revolutionary Guard and Basij)
Responsible for executing external operations and suppressing internal protests.

• Mohammad Pakpour
  Commander of the Revolutionary Guard, leading Iran’s most influential military force tasked with protecting the regime and securing its regional influence.
• Gholam Reza Soleimani
  Commander of the Basij, responsible for direct internal repression, handling popular protests, and mobilizing volunteer forces.
• Qassem Gharishi
  Deputy head of the Basij organization.
• Reza Khazaei
  Officer in the Quds Force.

Fourth: security and intelligence leadership
Responsible for covert operations, espionage, and managing security crises.

• Esmail Khatib
  Minister of Intelligence, heading the central intelligence apparatus tasked with tracking opponents and conducting external operations against international targets.
• Ali Shamkhani
  Advisor to the Supreme Leader and architect of covert security and diplomatic policies, with extensive experience in managing regional balances.
• Esmail Ahmadi
  Head of Basij Intelligence, playing a key role in suppressing protesters and enforcing “regime values” by force.
• Saleh Assadi
  Head of intelligence at Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters.
• Gholam Reza Rezaeian
  Head of Iranian police intelligence.
• Abolghasem Babaeian
  Head of the Supreme Leader’s military office.
• Akbar Ghaffari
  Deputy Minister of Intelligence.
• Esmail Ahmadi
  Head of Basij forces intelligence.
• Mohammad Baseri
  Senior official in the Ministry of Intelligence.
• Major General Bahram Hosseini Motlagh
  Head of planning and military operations department.
• Majed Hosseini
  Senior financial official.
• Ali Reza
  Head of corps intelligence in Lebanon.
• Ahmad Rasouli
  Head of corps intelligence in Palestine.
• Hossein Ahmadlou
  Senior intelligence officer.
• Abouzar Mohammadi
  Operations commander in the missile unit of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard within Hezbollah in Beirut.

Fifth: propaganda and military research leadership
Responsible for shaping the regime’s image and developing its sensitive programs.

• Ali Mohammad Naeini
  Spokesperson of the Revolutionary Guard and responsible for psychological warfare and media propaganda for Iran’s allies.
• Hossein Jabal Amelian
  Head of the Defense Innovation and Research Organization, responsible for developing advanced weapons.
• Reza Mozaffari Nia
  Former head of the Defense Innovation and Research Organization.
• Major General Mohsen Darbaghi
  Deputy head of the supply and industrial research department.
• Mohammad Shirazi
  Head of the Supreme Leader’s military office since 1989.
• Abolghasem Babaeian
  New head of the Supreme Leader’s military office, appointed as successor to Shirazi.