TEHRAN – Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced on Friday that its spokesman, Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naeini, was martyred in an act of terrorism carried out by the United States and Israel.

In a statement, the IRGC extended its condolences and congratulations to the nation’s Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, describing the general’s martyrdom as a “badge of honor earned in a long career of resistance.” It characterized the U.S.-Israeli strike, which occurred at dawn on the final day of the holy month of Ramadan, as a “desperate crime by aggressor regimes unable to counter Iran’s growing influence.”

The statement hailed General Naeini’s decades of service, particularly his role during the Iraqi invasion of Iran as well as in the recent True Promise retaliatory operations against the United States and Israel. It described him as a “towering figure in the history of sacrifice”, whose innovations in the realm of “soft war”—the battle for public perception and influence—will continue to guide IRGC forces in their struggle against “arrogant powers.”

Vowing to persist on the “hopeful and rigid” path forged by the fallen commander, the IRGC pledged that its spiritual and soft power would remain undiminished, ensuring the “glorious sound of the Resistance continues to resonate among the faithful.”

General Naeini was a veteran commander and served as the chief spokesperson for the IRGC for the past two years, also holding the position of deputy head of the IRGC’s Public Relations Department. A figure deeply embedded in the fabric of Iran’s military, Naeini’s career spanned over forty years. He rose to prominence during the Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988), a formative period for the IRGC that solidified its identity as both a military and ideological bulwark. In recent years, he played a significant role in shaping the narrative of Iran’s strategic operations, including the True Promise missile and drone strikes against Israel in April 2024, October 2024, June 2025, and the latest strikes against the United States and Israel that began in February 2026.

Since the ongoing war began, the U.S. and Israel have assassinated several Iranian officials, all of which are considered illegal under international law. They began with the assassination of Iran’s former Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and a number of Iranian commanders in their opening strikes. This week, they assassinated Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani, as well as the commander of the Basij Forces, Major General Gholamreza Soleimani.

Analysts say the two regimes believe that by assassinating Iranian officials, they can force the Islamic Republic to collapse. Iran’s political system, however, has proved resilient, and analysts around the world are of the opinion that it would not fracture through assassinations—only further motivate replacements to take action against U.S.-Israeli interests.