After the American strike on Iran's primary nuclear facilities, Israel continues to maintain an active elimination list of senior Revolutionary Guards and military officials within the Islamic Republic.
A disagreement exists between Israel and the United States regarding the effectiveness of eliminating Iranian leader Ali Khamenei. Nevertheless, he remains conscious of the threats against him and, according to The New York Times, has designated three potential successors to avoid a leadership vacuum.
The New York Times correspondent covering Iran, Farnaz Fassihi, posted this morning on X, "Iran's leader Ayatollah Khamenei is in a bunker, all his electronic communication suspended to protect him against assassinations and communication with him is limited and difficult. Until he speaks, Iran's definitive response to U.S. strikes on nuclear sites is not clear."
Ali Shamkhani undoubtedly tops the elimination list. He serves as Khamenei's senior advisor and is characterized by Israel as "the official responsible for the nuclear program." Shamkhani sustained injuries during Israel's initial attack over a week ago. Iranian reports indicate he underwent leg amputation and sustained severe injuries, though his condition has reportedly stabilized.
Last Saturday, prior to the American assault, he posted a multilingual message on X, including Hebrew, declaring, "It was my fate to survive wounded – so I remain, still the reason for the enemy's hatred. I'd sacrifice myself a hundred times for Iran. Fighting a nation of hope is a game that ends in ashes for its enemies. Victory, lit by martyrs' smiles, is near."
Beyond Shamkhani, Iran's revised military hierarchy faces targeting. At its helm stands Abdolrahim Mousavi, the former army commander designated to succeed the armed forces chief. This morning, he announced, "Throughout history, the Iranian nation has demonstrated that it never capitulates to aggression, instead resisting with maximum strength against the Zionist entity's invasion."
Previously, Mousavi occupied numerous roles, including serving on Iran's Supreme National Security Council and functioning as deputy army commander. Throughout the years, he labeled America "the Great Satan" and expressed that his ultimate aspiration was Israel's destruction.
Replacing General Hussein Salami, Mohammad Pakpour received the appointment, having previously commanded ground forces. He served in the Revolutionary Guards since the Iran-Iraq War era and spent years overseeing the suppression of uprisings in the northwestern region. American sanctions targeted him in 2019.
Mohammad Karimi represents another objective, having been designated ground forces commander. Prior to this appointment, he maintained a rank equivalent to brigadier general. Karimi gained notoriety as the merciless governor of eastern Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan province, brutally crushing Baluchi minority demonstrations. This potentially represents Khamenei's strategy for regime stabilization and intimidation of diverse opposition factions.
Following Abdolrahim Mousavi's designation as armed forces commander, Amir Hatami received appointment as army commander. Hatami initiated his Revolutionary Guards involvement through the Basij militia structure for protest suppression. He subsequently joined the army and fulfilled various roles, including deputy chief of staff. His 2017 appointment as defense minister was followed by service as Khamenei's military affairs advisor.
