Reports from Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting on Sunday claim that Iran’s Chief of Staff, Abdolrahim Mousavi, has been killed in a new round of coordinated airstrikes allegedly carried out by forces from the United States and Israel.
If confirmed, Mousavi’s death would represent a major disruption within Iran’s military establishment, removing one of the most senior figures in the country’s armed forces at a time of mounting external pressure.
Khamenei Killed
The reported strike comes less than a day after Iranian officials announced the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was also said to have been killed in joint U.S.-Israeli operations targeting Tehran.
The back-to-back losses of Iran’s top political and military authorities signal an unprecedented escalation and could dramatically reshape the country’s internal power structure.
Regional analysts warn that eliminating key decision-makers in such rapid succession may destabilize Iran’s command chain and prompt swift strategic recalibrations.
Security observers say the developments risk deepening tensions across the Middle East, where existing rivalries and proxy conflicts remain volatile.
More Attacks To Come
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly indicated that military operations aimed at Iran’s leadership will continue.
According to multiple accounts, Washington intends to sustain pressure until what it describes as Iran’s senior military command apparatus is dismantled — a stance that suggests prolonged confrontation may lie ahead.
As Tehran confronts the sudden leadership vacuum, attention has shifted to succession plans.
British newspaper The Guardian reported that a provisional governing framework is being prepared to manage the transition.
Under the reported arrangement, President Masoud Pezeshkian, Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, and another senior judicial authority would collectively supervise state affairs during the interim period.
The Succession Plan
Separately, Iranian state media has named Mohammad Mokhber as the designated successor to Khamenei.
Mokhber, a longtime confidant of the late Supreme Leader, previously stepped in as acting president following the sudden death of former President Ebrahim Raisi in 2024.
He also served as First Vice President from 2021 to 2024, positioning him as a seasoned figure within Iran’s executive leadership.
With uncertainty surrounding the accuracy and broader implications of the reports, the situation remains fluid.
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However, if verified, the consecutive targeting of Iran’s highest-ranking officials would mark a watershed moment for the country — and potentially for the wider region.