In the wake of a preemptive strike by US-Israel that resulted in the death of the IRGC's Commander-in-Chief, Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi has been appointed as the new head of the IRGC. Ahmad Vahidi has formerly served as Iran's Interior Minister and as a commander of the Quds Force.
On December 31, 2025, Iran’s Supreme Leader appointed Ahmad Vahidi as the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
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Supreme Leader Khamenei made the appointment of Ahmad Vahidi amid significant shifts within Iran's military framework. In 2025, during previous attacks, several senior commanders, including Hossein Salami, were killed.
Reports suggest that following Khamenei’s death, Iran is experiencing a leadership transition, bringing uncertainty to the nation's future command.
It has been confirmed that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has passed away. Combined US-Israel military strikes expertly targeted his Tehran office, leading to his demise.
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Initially, some Iranian agencies refuted these reports, but later, IRIB and other national outlets officially confirmed his "martyrdom."
The Iranian government has declared 40 days of national mourning, alongside a seven-day public holiday. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump acknowledged his death on social media, deeming it an opportunity for Iranians to "reclaim their country." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted at Khamenei’s death before the official confirmation was in place.
Iranian Government Hit by US-Israel Strikes
Iran's state media confirmed the deaths of Iran's top military and security figures, Mohammad Pakpour and Ali Shamkhani, due to joint US-Israel airstrikes. Iranian state TV and official news agencies released the confirmations.
Mohammad Pakpour, commander of the IRGC, was appointed to his role after the 2025 death of Senior Commander Hossein Salami. Ali Shamkhani served as Khamenei’s top advisor and the Secretary of the Defense Council—both killed in the coordinated strikes.
These losses have profoundly shaken Iran's military framework, as Pakpour and Shamkhani were instrumental in shaping Iran’s strategic and military policies. The Iranian government is currently releasing detailed statements regarding its current mourning and security conditions.
