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Iran’s armed forces chief of staff, Abdolrahim Mousavi, was killed along with several senior generals in strikes carried out by the United States and Israel, state TV reported Sunday.
The report named Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, Revolutionary Guards chief Mohammad Pakpour, and Defense Council head Ali Shamkhani as among those killed during Saturday’s strikes. State TV said they were killed “during a Defense Council meeting,” with additional names to be announced later.
The news sparked celebrations among some Iranians both inside the country and abroad following reports—later unverified—claiming that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been targeted in the strikes on Iranian leadership and regime structures.
On Saturday, Israel confirmed a pre-emptive operation against Iran, describing it as an effort to neutralize perceived threats from Tehran’s nuclear and missile programs. The strikes, reportedly coordinated with US forces, hit multiple locations across Iran, while sirens sounded in Israel amid fears of possible retaliation.
Explosions were widely reported in Tehran, with Iranian media confirming military activity. The operation has disrupted ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at resuming talks between Washington and Tehran over the nuclear issue.
