Abdolrahim Mousavi, Iran’s Chief of Staff, was purportedly killed in a new series of airstrikes carried out by US and Israeli forces, Iranian state media claimed on Sunday.

The reported death of Mousavi, a key player in Iran’s military command system, is another big blow to the country’s defence hierarchy, and it comes as regional tensions rise.

The development comes just 24 hours after the claimed assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, in what was portrayed as a combined US-Israeli strike.

Analysts believe that the repeated targeting of Iran’s top leadership might have far-reaching consequences for the country’s command structure and the Middle East as a whole.

US President Donald Trump has reportedly stated that military efforts against Iran’s leadership will continue.

According to sources, Trump said that strikes would continue until Iran’s senior military command was completely neutralised, highlighting the prospect of further regional hostilities.

In a related development, Iran is anticipated to act fast to fill the vacuum created by Khamenei’s reported death.

According to The Guardian UK, a provisional leadership structure has been proposed to shepherd the country through the transition period.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, and another top legal figure are anticipated to take over state activities on an interim basis.

At the same time, Iranian state television selected Mohammad Mokhber as Khamenei’s successor.

Mokhber, a long-time confidant and adviser to the late leader, previously served as temporary president following the unexpected death of former President Ebrahim Raisi in 2024.

He also served as First Vice President between 2021 and 2024.

The situation remains uncertain, with global leaders anxiously watching developments as tensions between Iran, the US, and Israel rise.

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