Israel launched on Friday “Operation Rising Lion,” a series of airstrikes targeting military and nuclear facilities, as well as the residences of high-ranking Iranian officials in Tehran.
Among the casualties was Ali Shamkhani, the former secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), who was seriously injured at his home in Niavaran and transported to the hospital, where he died of his wounds.
His death was confirmed on Saturday by Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage and official Iranian media.
Born on September 29, 1955, in Ahvaz, to a family of Arab Iranian descent, Shamkhani studied engineering at Shahid Chamran University before joining revolutionary groups opposed to the Shah.
He quickly rose through the ranks of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), leading the IRGC Navy from 1980 to 1989, and then the regular Iranian Navy until 1997.
In 1997, he was appointed Minister of Defense under President Khatami, a position he held until 2005. He played a strategic mediating role in regional diplomacy, particularly with Saudi Arabia, and received the Order of Abdulaziz Al Saud in 2004.
In May 2023, after ten years at the head of the SNSC, he was replaced by Ali Akbar Ahmadian. However, by order of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, he was appointed to the Expediency Discernment Council and became a political advisor to the Supreme Leader, solidifying his close connection to the center of power.
His proximity to Ayatollah Khamenei was evident: he oversaw key strategic files, including the nuclear dossier, as well as sensitive negotiations with Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states and Iraq – acting as a diplomatic bridge under Khamenei’s direct authority.
With his ability to balance military power with diplomatic engagement, Shamkhani embodied a rare combination of seasoned military commander, pragmatic politician and trusted advisor to the Supreme Leader.
His death shakes the foundation of Iran’s security apparatus. Tehran has lost a central figure in its strategic structure.
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