Egypt Daily News – Iranian state television officially announced the death of Ali Shamkhani, advisor to the Iranian Supreme Leader, as a result of injuries sustained in the hospital following an Israeli attack a day earlier.
Ali Shamkhani was among the top targets in the Israeli airstrike that struck nuclear facilities and military headquarters in both Tehran and Isfahan. An Israeli official stated that the operation focused on targeting senior Iranian leaders, including Shamkhani, due to his pivotal role in Iran’s nuclear file and negotiations with Western countries.
Born in Khuzestan Province, Shamkhani was arrested in 1973 by the SAVAK (the Shah’s secret police) at the age of 18 for his political activism. He was imprisoned in Ahvaz, where he met figures like Mohsen Rezaei and Gholam Ali Rashid, with whom he later formed the armed group “Mansouroun.”
After the Islamic Revolution’s victory, Shamkhani joined the “Revolutionary Committees” and later the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). In 1979, at the age of 24, he was appointed commander of the IRGC in Khuzestan.
Shamkhani lost two of his brothers in military confrontations: Mohammad Shamkhani was killed during Operation Nasr in January 2010, while Hamid Shamkhani died in Operation Road to Quds in December 2016. Both served in the armed forces.
In 1986, he assumed command of the IRGC ground forces alongside Mohsen Rezaei, and in 1988, he was appointed overall commander of the IRGC. He later served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence and Operations until 1999.
Shamkhani joined President Mohammad Khatami’s government in 1997 as Minister of Defense and held the position until 2005. On April 14, 1999, he was granted the naval rank of Rear Admiral at the age of 44. He also ran in the 2001 presidential elections, finishing third behind Mohammad Khatami and Ahmad Tavakkoli.
On September 9, 2013, President Hassan Rouhani appointed Shamkhani as Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, succeeding Saeed Jalili. He was 58 years old at the time.
