Iranian state media outlet Press TV reported on Friday that Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naeini, spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was killed in US-Israeli strikes. This follows a series of targeted attacks on Iran’s top officials since the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28.

On Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the killing of Esmaeil Khatib, Iran’s Minister of Intelligence. The IDF claimed Khatib had targeted Iranian citizens during the Mahsa Amini protests (2022–2023) and had led operations against Israelis and Americans worldwide. In a post on X, the IDF stated that Khatib “played a significant role during recent protests, including the arrest and killing of protesters, and led terrorist activities globally.”

Iranian security chief Ali Larijani and Gholamreza Soleimani, head of the Basij paramilitary force, were also killed in Israeli airstrikes on Tuesday. Iranian lawmaker Pezeshkian condemned the killings, calling them “cowardly assassinations” and expressed that the loss leaves the nation “heartbroken,” but vowed that their “path will continue stronger than before,” according to Al Jazeera.

Larijani, 67, a close associate of the late Khamenei and his successor Mojtaba Khamenei, was the highest-ranking Tehran official killed since the conflict began 19 days ago. Soleimani, who led internal security forces for six years, was seen as a key figure in Iran’s military response. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said this week that Iran’s political structure remains strong and resilient, despite the deaths of key figures. He emphasized that the absence of any individual does not weaken the country’s political system, noting that Iran has solid political, economic, and social institutions. Araghchi also referenced the earlier death of Ayatollah Khamenei, stating that the system continued to function despite the loss.