Sardar

Ali Mohammad Naini
Ali Mohammad Naini in 2025
Native name
علی محمد نائینی
Born
Ali Mohammad Naini

(1957-03-19)19 March 1957
Kashan, Isfahan province, Iran
Died 20 March 2026(2026-03-20) (aged 69)
Tehran, Iran
Cause of death Assassination by airstrike
Allegiance  Iran
Branch IRGC
Service years 1978–2026
Rank Second brigadier general
Commands Spokesperson of the IRGC
Conflicts
  • Iran–Iraq War (WIA)
  • Twelve-Day War
  • 2026 Iran war X

Ali Mohammad Naini (Persian: علی محمد نائینی‎, 19 March 1957 – 20 March 2026) was an Iranian military officer who served as the spokesperson of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), serving from 2024 until his death in 2026.[1][2][3][4][5]

Career

Naeini was a veteran with four decades of service, including participation in the Iran–Iraq War, and held several senior roles during his career, such as serving as the IRGC’s cultural deputy and the Basij’s cultural and social deputy. He succeeded Brigadier General Ramazan Sharif as the IRGC spokesperson, an appointment made by Commander-in-Chief Major General Hossein Salami.[6]

He was widely regarded as one of the IRGC’s leading experts in psychological warfare, soft power, and cognitive warfare.[6]

Naini was also a professor of social sciences and faculty member at Imam Hossein University.[7][8][9] The United Kingdom sanctioned Naini following the October 2024 Iranian missile strikes on Israel.[10][11][12][13]

Death

Naini was assassinated on 20 March 2026 by the Israeli strikes during the 2026 Iran war. His death was officially confirmed by Iranian news media reports.[14]

References

  1. ^ "Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naeini appointed as new IRGC spokesman". Tehran Times. 2024-07-24. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  2. ^ "Iran's rhetoric softens as it balances retaliation for Hamas leader". Iran International. 2024-08-20. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  3. ^ "Iran's retaliation against Israel may take time: Revolutionary Guards". The Express Tribune. 2024-08-20. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  4. ^ "Iran warns Israel that retaliation will come at a time of Tehran's choosing". NBC News. 2024-08-21. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  5. ^ "Iran, already on the defensive, braces for second Trump term". Washington Post. 2025-01-12. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  6. ^ a b "Who was Ali Mohammad Naini? Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Spokesperson killed in US strike". Live Mint. 20 March 2026. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  7. ^ "Brigadier Gen. Naeini appointed new IRGC spokesman". Mehr News Agency. 2024-07-24. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  8. ^ "Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naini becomes the new deputy head of IRGC public relations". IRNA. 2024-07-24. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  9. ^ "Mohammad Naini becomes deputy social affairs deputy mayor of Tehran". Hamshahri (in Persian). 2014-08-02. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  10. ^ "UK imposes sanctions on senior Iranian military figures". The Independent. 2024-10-14. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  11. ^ "UK announces sanctions against Iranian military figures and organisations following attack on Israel". GOV.UK. 2024-10-14. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  12. ^ "UK sanctions Iran's top military leaders, two suppliers of cruise missile components". JNS.org. 2024-10-14. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  13. ^ "UK announces new sanctions against Iran in response to Israel attack". Jewish News. 2024-10-14. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  14. ^ "Spokesperson for Iran's Revolutionary Guards killed in strike, state TV says". Reuters. 20 March 2026. Retrieved 20 March 2026.