Department of Research, Studies and International News 16-06-2025

Following a wave of Israeli airstrikes targeting senior Iranian military leaders, the Islamic Republic has swiftly restructured its armed forces’ leadership, signaling both resilience and determination to continue its strategic defense and regional role. The assassinations, widely seen as provocative acts orchestrated by Tel Aviv with backing from Washington, have been met with decisive retaliatory measures and a firm reassertion of Iran’s military capabilities.

Among the casualties of Israel’s recent escalatory attacks was General Mohammad Bagheri, Iran’s highest-ranking military officer and Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces. A seasoned veteran of the Iran-Iraq war, Bagheri was a critical figure in coordinating Iran’s military strategy and reported directly to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The attacks also claimed the lives of other top officials, including Deputy for Operations Mehdi Rabani and Deputy for Intelligence Gholamreza Mehrabi.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran’s elite force, suffered significant losses as well. Commander Hossein Salami, a prominent figure in Iran’s defense architecture, was assassinated alongside key leaders of the IRGC’s aerospace division, responsible for missile development and drone warfare. The targeted strike on an underground command facility in Tehran killed eight senior officers, including Ali Akbar Hajizadeh, a pioneer of Iran’s missile defense capabilities.

New commanders, same resistance

In response, Ayatollah Khamenei appointed Brigadier General Abdolrahim Mousavi as the new Chief of Staff. Mousavi, a career army officer and war veteran, is the first from the regular army to hold the post, traditionally led by IRGC figures. His appointment marks a calculated move to unify Iran’s military institutions under a battle-tested and ideologically aligned leader.

Replacing Salami as head of the IRGC is General Mohammad Pakpour, another veteran of the Iran-Iraq war with decades of experience in commanding armored and ground forces. Pakpour’s reputation for strategic discipline and operational prowess positions him as a formidable successor capable of steering the IRGC during this critical phase of confrontation.

Amir Hatami, a seasoned officer with a legacy rooted in Iran’s defense against foreign-backed insurgencies such as the Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK), has been promoted to Major General and now commands the Iranian army. His leadership is marked by a patriotic commitment to safeguarding national sovereignty against external threats, especially from the Israeli-American axis.

The IRGC’s aerospace division is now under Brigadier General Majid Mousavi, a key figure in advancing Iran’s missile and drone technologies. A close associate of the late Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam, the architect of Iran’s missile program, Majid Mousavi’s appointment underscores Iran’s intent to bolster its strategic deterrence.

A coordinated response against Israeli provocations

Since assuming command, the new leadership has coordinated a series of precision strikes against Israeli military targets, infrastructure, and occupied territories. Over three consecutive nights, Iran launched waves of drones and missiles, dealing blows to military bases and power grids inside Israel, and marking a new phase of calculated retaliation. At least 14 Israelis have been killed, and dozens more injured, in strikes that Tehran views as justified responses to the regime’s aggression.

In parallel, Israel’s attacks on Iran’s oil, gas, petrochemical, and civilian infrastructure have caused significant damage and human loss. Iranian authorities report more than 220 casualties, including 25 children. Explosions rocked neighborhoods across Tehran, such as Niavaran, Saadat Abad, and Valiasr, as Israeli warplanes continued their campaign, targeting civilian and industrial zones alike.

Despite these brutal acts, Iran’s leadership has reiterated its commitment to resisting Zionist and Western imperialism. Nationwide banners carry the message: “You started the war, we will finish it.” General Hatami declared the Iranian army’s readiness to inflict “decisive and effective blows on the fake and child-killing Zionist regime.”

Conclusion: A shift in the balance

The recent developments reflect more than just a reshuffle of military leadership, they embody Iran’s enduring strength and strategic foresight in the face of continuous provocations by Israel and its Western patrons. With commanders who are seasoned, ideologically resolute, and technologically capable, Iran is signaling that it remains undeterred and prepared for a long-term confrontation aimed at safeguarding regional sovereignty and resisting foreign domination.

As Tehran strengthens its alliance with fellow anti-imperialist nations, Russia, China, and others, the regional and global balance of power continues to shift away from Western hegemony toward a multipolar future.