According to two regional sources cited by Reuters, at least 20 senior Iranian officials were killed, including senior military leaders and nuclear scientists.
Among the dead were the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), General Hossein Salami; the chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces, Major General Mohammad Bagheri; and the head of the IRGC’s Aerospace Force, Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh.
Khamenei issued a series of decrees appointing replacements to key military posts. Major General Mohammad Pakpour was named the new commander of the IRGC, replacing Salami, while Major General Abdulrahim Mousavi assumed the role of chief of the armed forces general staff.
Major General Ali Shademani was appointed head of the Khatam al-Anbia Headquarters, previously led by the late Major General Gholamali Rashid.
Also confirmed among the dead was Ali Shamkhani, a key political figure and close confidant of the Supreme Leader. Shamkhani had played a prominent role in nuclear negotiations with the United States as part of a committee formed by Khamenei.
The attacks, which Israeli sources claimed were aimed at halting Iran’s atomic programme, hit critical infrastructure, including the main uranium enrichment facility at Natanz.
Iranian media and witnesses confirmed a series of explosions at multiple sites, while Israel declared a state of emergency in anticipation of potential retaliatory drone and missile attacks.
List of key Iranian figures killed in the attacks:
Hossein Salami: IRGC commander-in-chief since 2019.
Mohammad Bagheri: Chief of the armed forces general staff since 2016.
Gholamali Rashid: Head of the Khatam al-Anbia headquarters and former deputy chief of staff.
Amir Ali Hajizadeh: Head of the IRGC Aerospace Force, known for directing aerial operations.
Ali Shamkhani: Senior political advisor and nuclear negotiator.
Tehran termed the attacks a ‘declaration of war’
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi addressed the United Nations in a strongly worded letter, calling the Israeli attacks a “declaration of war” and urging the UN Security Council to take immediate action.
“Israel has now crossed every red line, and the international community must not allow these crimes to go unpunished,” the letter stated.
Iran, Araghchi added, reserves the right to respond under Article 51 of the UN Charter, which affirms the inherent right of self-defence in the event of an armed attack.
“Iran reaffirms its inherent right to self-defence… and will respond decisively and proportionately to these unlawful and cowardly acts,” the letter concluded.