Israel’s targeted airstrikes across Iran on Friday have resulted in the deaths of high-ranking commanders and senior nuclear scientists, dealing a major blow to Iran’s military leadership and technical expertise.
Iran has confirmed the deaths of several senior military commanders and nuclear scientists following Israeli airstrikes across multiple cities, including Tehran, on Friday, 13 June. The operation, referred to by Israel as a pre-emptive measure, marks one of the most consequential single-day losses for Iran’s defence and scientific leadership in recent history.
Major General Mohammad Bagheri
Major General Mohammad Bagheri was serving as the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the country’s highest-ranking military officer. Widely seen as the strategic architect of Iran’s defence policy, Bagheri coordinated operations across the conventional military and the IRGC. His leadership shaped Iran’s regional military posture, including its activities in Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon.
Major General Hossein Salami
Hossein Salami held the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran’s most powerful military and ideological force. Appointed in 2019, he was known for his hardline views and direct involvement in shaping Iran’s missile and drone capabilities. Salami was often seen as a central figure in articulating Iran’s strategic red lines and deterrence doctrine against Israel and the United States.
Major General Gholamali Rashid
Gholamali Rashid led the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, a strategic command centre responsible for Iran’s wartime operations and defence mobilisation. A veteran of the Iran–Iraq War and a long-time military planner, Rashid was a key figure in Iran’s command-and-control architecture. He maintained close ties with the Supreme Leader’s office and was involved in high-level military crisis planning.
Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh
Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh served as the Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force, overseeing Iran’s missile, drone, and space programs. He played a significant role in developing the country’s ballistic missile and UAV capabilities. His leadership in the Aerospace Force contributed to shaping Iran’s military strategy, particularly in regional conflicts such as those in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. Hajizadeh's expertise in missile development was key to Iran’s defense strategy.
Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi
Academic Leader and Nuclear Physicist Linked to Iran’s Research Institutions
Dr. Tehranchi was a distinguished physicist and university leader, holding executive roles in Iran’s academic institutions, including Sharif University of Technology and Islamic Azad University. He played a central role in guiding Iran’s nuclear education sector and was regarded as a mentor to many scientists working in sensitive research areas. His death represents a significant loss for the intellectual infrastructure of Iran’s nuclear development efforts.
Dr. Fereydoun Abbasi
Former Head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation and Nuclear Policy Architect
A nuclear physicist by training, Dr. Fereydoun Abbasi served as the head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran. He was a central figure in developing Iran’s uranium enrichment capabilities and was previously sanctioned by international bodies for his role in Iran’s nuclear programme. In 2010, he survived an assassination attempt in Tehran. Abbasi remained influential in Iran’s energy and scientific policymaking, often appearing in public discourse defending the country’s nuclear sovereignty.
Other Nuclear Scientists Killed
Iranian state media confirmed the deaths of four additional nuclear scientists: Seyyed Amirhossein Faqhi, Abdolhamid Minouchehr, Ahmadreza Zolfaghari, and an individual identified as Motabizadeh. While limited public information is available about their individual roles, all were described as professors and researchers actively engaged in Iran’s national nuclear programme. They are believed to have worked on reactor systems, advanced centrifuge design, and enrichment technologies. Their deaths constitute a major blow to Iran’s institutional knowledge and scientific continuity in nuclear development.
National Mourning and Government Response
Following the airstrikes, the Iranian government declared a national period of mourning. In a televised message, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described the strike as a “bloody and wicked crime” and warned of severe retaliation. “The regime must expect severe punishment,” he said, adding that Iran’s armed forces would respond decisively.
Authorities have urged the public to remain calm and avoid unnecessary travel or panic. The Crisis Management Headquarters called on citizens to rely only on official sources for information and warned digital media users to prioritise public psychological security.
The UK government has unveiled a new package of asylum reforms that will significantly tighten access to refugee status and expand enforced family rem...
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday that the European Union must transform into a European defence union amid growing international securi...
Government ministers from around the world were preparing for a final few fraught days of talks at the U.N. climate summit as they bid to secure a dea...
On 18–19 November, Iran’s Gilan Province, in the city of Rasht, will bring together the leaders of the Caspian littoral regions. The two-day meeti...
An explosion that damaged a Polish railway track on a route to Ukraine was an "unprecedented act of sabotage", Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Mond...
Iran has strongly rejected as “unfounded and irresponsible” a joint statement by the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) about Tehran’s nuclear program and its alleged support of Russia in the war with Ukraine.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov discussed the upcoming Board of Governors session of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) meeting in a phone call on Wednesday.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Secretary of Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Larijani have stressed that Tehran is entitled to the peaceful applications of its nuclear program.
Iran is seeking a "peaceful" nuclear agreement with the United States to resolve a longstanding dispute but will not compromise on its national security, Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Tuesday.
Ukraine is facing a sharp escalation in fighting across several fronts, with Russian forces launching large-scale offensive operations while Kyiv intensifies long-range strikes deep inside Russian territory.
Russia announced on Sunday that its forces had made significant advances in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, capturing two settlements as part of what it described as a broader offensive aimed at securing full control of the strategic territory.
Storm Claudia, which brought violent weather to Portugal, has resulted in the deaths of three people and left dozens injured, authorities reported on Saturday. Meanwhile, in Britain, rescue teams were organising evacuations due to heavy flooding in Wales and England.
U.S. President Donald Trump purchased at least $82 million in corporate and municipal bonds between late August and early October, including new investments in sectors benefiting from his policies, according to financial disclosures made public on Saturday.
Russia announced on Sunday that its forces had made significant advances in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, capturing two settlements as part of a broader offensive aimed at seizing full control of the area.
Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan met in Yerevan with Allison Hooker, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Political Affairs, who is visiting the country.
Air quality in Tashkent deteriorated sharply with the Uzbekistan Hydrometeorological Service (Uzhydromet) reporting that concentrations of fine particulate matter exceeded national safety limits.
Palestinian resistance factions have rejected a U.S. draft resolution proposing an international stabilisation force in the Gaza Strip, warning it seeks to impose external control over the territory and undermine Palestinian sovereignty.
One of the most dynamic global youth and innovation gatherings of the year is underway in the Azerbaijani capital. Baku welcomed the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Global Youth Celebration 2025, a key pre-event to the upcoming World Telecommunication Development Conference 2025 (WTDC).
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev gave a speech in Tashkent on 16 November at the 7th Consultative Meeting of Central Asian leaders, where regional heads of state gathered to discuss cooperation and Azerbaijan’s expanding role in the format.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment