Iran’s Chief of Staff, Abdolrahim Mousavi, has reportedly been killed in a fresh series of airstrikes conducted by United States and Israeli forces.
The reported death of Mousavi, a key figure in Iran’s military leadership, represents a significant blow to the country’s defense hierarchy.
This development comes less than 24 hours after the confirmed killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, in coordinated US-Israeli strikes on Tehran.
Analysts suggest that the consecutive targeting of Iran’s top officials could have far-reaching consequences for the nation’s military command and the wider Middle East.
Security experts have warned that the loss of senior military figures in rapid succession may prompt shifts in Iran’s strategic posture and exacerbate regional instability.
United States President Donald Trump has indicated that operations against Iran’s leadership are expected to continue, signaling a likelihood of sustained tensions in the region until the country’s top military command is fully neutralized.
In a related development, Iran is reportedly preparing to fill the leadership vacuum left by Khamenei’s death.
A temporary arrangement is said to involve Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, and another senior legal official overseeing state affairs during the transition.
Meanwhile, Iranian state media have named Mohammad Mokhber as the successor to Khamenei.
Mokhber, a longtime aide and adviser to the late Supreme Leader, previously served as acting president following the sudden death of former President Ebrahim Raisi in 2024 and held the position of First Vice President from 2021 to 2024.
