IRGC Chief, Iran Defence Minister Killed in Strikes

The chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), General Mohammad Pakpour, and Defence Minister Amir Nasirzadeh were reportedly killed in Israeli airstrikes inside Iran early Saturday, according to regional officials.

Israeli sources said the strikes targeted senior Iranian military leaders, including Pakpour and Nasirzadeh, as well as the country’s intelligence chief. The total number of casualties has yet to be officially confirmed.

Reports also suggested that key political figures, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, may have been among those targeted, although their condition and whereabouts remain unclear.

If confirmed, the death of Pakpour would mark a significant blow to Iran’s security structure. As head of the IRGC, he oversaw internal security, regional military operations, and strategic responses to joint US–Israeli actions. The IRGC also controls Iran’s missile and aerospace programmes, oversees elite overseas units, and maintains extensive economic interests.

Analysts say striking the IRGC leadership signals a shift from targeting military infrastructure to directly confronting Iran’s command structure. Such actions could disrupt operational chains within the IRGC and the broader national security apparatus.

Iran has reportedly begun retaliatory moves in the region, raising concerns of further escalation. However, Iranian authorities have yet to issue formal confirmation regarding the reported deaths or the full extent of the damage.