The Israeli military’s recent attack on Iran has resulted in the deaths of several high-profile Iranian commanders and nuclear scientists. Among those killed were Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces; Hossein Salami, the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC); and Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the commander of the IRGC’s Aerospace Force.
Mohammad Bagheri was a prominent figure in Iran’s military, known for his role in the Iran-Iraq war and his later appointment as chief of staff. Despite being considered less hardline than other commanders, Bagheri had recently come under criticism for a speech he made in April, in which he called for peace and urged the avoidance of war. Following his death, Abdolrahim Mousavi has been appointed the new chief of staff of the armed forces, a position that marks a shift as he does not come from within the ranks of the IRGC, being an army general instead.
Hossein Salami, known for his hard-line stance towards Israel, had vowed that Tehran would “open the gates of hell” if attacked by either Israel or the US. His death marks a significant loss for the IRGC, and Mohammad Pakpour has been appointed as the new commander of the IRGC. Salami’s leadership and rhetoric had been pivotal in shaping the IRGC’s stance on international conflicts, particularly with Israel.
The commander of the IRGC’s Aerospace Force, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, was also among those killed. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Hajizadeh had gathered in an underground command centre with the majority of the IRGC’s air force commanders to prepare for an attack on Israel, before being killed in a strike targeting the building. Hajizadeh was regarded less favourably by members of Iran’s general public after he took responsibility for downing a Ukrainian passenger plane flying out of Tehran in 2020, which killed all 176 people on board.
In addition to these military leaders, several nuclear scientists were also killed in the attack. They include Fereydoon Abbasi, a nuclear scientist who served as the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation between 2011 and 2013; Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, the head of Azad University in Tehran; Abdulhamid Minouchehr, head of nuclear engineering at Iran’s Shahid Beheshti University; Ahmad Reza Zolfaghari, a nuclear engineering professor at Shahid Beheshti University; and Amirhossein Feqhi, another nuclear professor at Shahid Beheshti University.
The international community has been closely watching the developments in the region, with leaders calling for restraint and urging both sides to step back from further escalation. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has urged Iran and Israel to “step back” and reduce tensions, emphasizing the need for diplomatic solutions to prevent further conflict. As the situation continues to unfold, the impact of these deaths on Iran’s military and nuclear programs remains to be seen, but it is clear that the attack has dealt a significant blow to Iran’s leadership and capabilities.