Iran’s Revolutionary Guards spokesperson Ali Mohammad Naini has been killed, according to state media reports on Friday, as tensions from the ongoing US-Israel conflict continue to shake the Gulf region.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) serves as one of the main branches of Iran’s armed forces. Reports indicate that Naini died in strikes carried out by the United States and Israel. A statement cited by AFP described his death as the result of a “cowardly terrorist attack” carried out at dawn.
His killing came shortly after he issued strong remarks about Iran’s military capabilities. In comments reported by local media, Naini expressed confidence in the country’s missile program, stating that production remains steady even during wartime and that Iran has no shortage of supply. He also hinted at future escalation, warning that more developments were in store and that the conflict would grow increasingly intense.
The development marks another major setback for Iran’s leadership. Naini is the fourth high-profile figure to be killed this week, following the deaths of Ali Larijani, Gholamreza Soleimani, and Esmail Khatib in a series of strikes.
The situation has escalated sharply since late February, when US-Israeli strikes on Iran triggered a wave of drone and missile exchanges. Israel reportedly targeted the South Pars gas field, while Iran responded by striking Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG facility, one of the largest of its kind in the world.
Although Israel has not officially confirmed its role in the South Pars strike, US President Donald Trump attributed the attack to Israel and stated that no further strikes on Iranian gas infrastructure were planned. At the same time, he warned that any continued Iranian attacks on Qatar’s energy facilities would provoke a strong US response.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz also signaled further action, suggesting that additional operations could follow. His comments came after Israel claimed responsibility for killing Iran’s intelligence minister, Esmail Khatib, as part of a broader effort to weaken the country’s leadership.
