Iran has suffered two major setbacks in recent Israeli attacks. Iran has confirmed that Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini has been killed in an Israeli airstrike. Also, in a separate attack, General Ismail Ahmadi, the intelligence chief of Iran’s Basij forces, was killed. Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naini served as the spokesman and deputy chief of public relations of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He was appointed to the post by the Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC, Hussein Salami, in July 2024. Born in 1957, Naini was a veteran of the Iran–Iraq War; He was also injured during this conflict. Naini held the rank of Second Brigadier General. They frequently issued statements on behalf of the IRGC, which often included warnings about Iran’s military readiness, as well as its missile and drone capabilities.
Ali Mohammad Naini served as IRGC spokesperson
Amid rising tensions in mid-March 2026, he claimed that Iran is fully prepared for a high-intensity conflict lasting at least six months. He pointed out that many next-generation missiles and drones have not yet been deployed. Mohammad Naini remained on the front lines throughout the duration of the Iran–Iraq War (1980–88). Over a period of approximately eight years, he served in various roles in the conflict. During the first year of the war, he served as the head of public relations for the Kadra Battalion. He also handled public relations and campaigns responsibilities at Abuzar Barracks in Sarpol-e Zahab. Later, he served as deputy chief of frontline propaganda at Najaf headquarters.
Israel has said it has struck more than 130 infrastructure sites linked to the Iranian regime. These targets included ballistic missile sites, UAVs and defense systems located in western and central Iran. In a statement, Israel claimed: “The Israeli Air Force is continuing strikes in western and central Iran, in order to reduce as much as possible the scope of fire directed at Israel from those areas, and to expand its air superiority over Iran.”
General Ismail Ahmadi: Intelligence Chief of Basij Force
The head of the Basij Intelligence Department, General Ismail Ahmadi, was an officer linked to the IRGC. He served in security and intelligence related roles within this organization. Being a native of Bushehr Province, his responsibilities within Basij focused primarily on security and intelligence operations. He was praised on several occasions by IRGC commander Hussein Salami. He served as a close aide and deputy to the late Basij commander, Ghulamreza Suleimani. As Basij’s Intelligence Chief, his role within the organization included internal security, counter-espionage operations, and ideological surveillance.
Ali Larijani murdered on March 17
Earlier, Iran’s *de facto* leader, Ali Larijani, was killed in an Israeli strike on March 17, 2026. The attack took place at night when he was present at his daughter’s residence. His son, several bodyguards and other associates were also killed in the attack. Larijani was widely seen as the potential interim leader of Iran after Khamenei’s death. His death has sparked a major crisis within Iran’s leadership.
