Sardar

Ali Mohammad Naini
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) 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]

According to media reports, Abdullah Haji Sadeghi, the representative of the Supreme Leader of Iran in the IRGC, appointed Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi as the new spokesperson.[15]

See also

  • List of Iranian officials killed during the 2026 Iran war

References

  1. ^ "Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naeini appointed as new IRGC spokesman". Tehran Times. 24 July 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  2. ^ "Iran's rhetoric softens as it balances retaliation for Hamas leader". Iran International. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  3. ^ "Iran's retaliation against Israel may take time: Revolutionary Guards". The Express Tribune. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  4. ^ "Iran warns Israel that retaliation will come at a time of Tehran's choosing". NBC News. 21 August 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  5. ^ "Iran, already on the defensive, braces for second Trump term". Washington Post. 12 January 2025. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  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. 24 July 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  8. ^ "Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naini becomes the new deputy head of IRGC public relations". IRNA. 24 July 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  9. ^ "Mohammad Naini becomes deputy social affairs deputy mayor of Tehran". Hamshahri (in Persian). 2 August 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  10. ^ "UK imposes sanctions on senior Iranian military figures". The Independent. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  11. ^ "UK announces sanctions against Iranian military figures and organisations following attack on Israel". GOV.UK. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  12. ^ "UK sanctions Iran's top military leaders, two suppliers of cruise missile components". JNS.org. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  13. ^ "UK announces new sanctions against Iran in response to Israel attack". Jewish News. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  14. ^ "Spokesperson for Iran's Revolutionary Guards killed in strike, state TV says". Reuters. 20 March 2026. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  15. ^ Khalique, Abdul (4 April 2026). "IRGC announce appointment of new spokesperson Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi". Daily Ausaf. Retrieved 7 April 2026.