Aziz Nasirzadeh

Amir
Aziz Nasirzadeh
عزیز نصیرزاده
Nasirzadeh in 2026, days before his assassination
Minister of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics
In office
21 August 2024 – 28 February 2026
PresidentMasoud Pezeshkian
Supreme LeaderAli Khamenei
Preceded byMohammad-Reza Gharaei Ashtiani
Succeeded byMajid Ebn-e-Reza (Acting)
Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces
In office
19 September 2021 – 21 August 2024
PresidentEbrahim Raisi
Mohammad Mokhber (acting)
Masoud Pezeshkian
Supreme LeaderAli Khamenei
Preceded byMohammad-Reza Gharaei Ashtiani
Succeeded byMohammad-Reza Gharaei Ashtiani
Commander of the Iranian Air Force
In office
19 August 2018 – 19 September 2021
PresidentHassan Rouhani
Ebrahim Raisi
Supreme LeaderAli Khamenei
Preceded byHassan Shahsafi
Succeeded byHamid Vahedi
Deputy Commander of the Iranian Air Force
In office
2017–2018
PresidentHassan Rouhani
Supreme LeaderAli Khamenei
Preceded byAlireza Barkhor
Succeeded byHamid Vahedi
Deputy Coordinator of the Iranian Air Force
In office
2009–2017
PresidentMahmoud Ahmadinejad
Hassan Rouhani
Supreme LeaderAli Khamenei
Preceded byAbolqasem Ebrahimdoost
Succeeded byMohammad Qarabaghi
Personal details
Born1964 (1964)
Sarab, East Azerbaijan, Pahlavi Iran
Died (aged 62)
Tehran, Iran
Cause of deathAirstrike
Resting placeBehesht-e Zahra
Military service
Allegiance Iran
Branch/service Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
Years of service
1982–2026
Rank
Battles/wars

Aziz Nasirzadeh (Persian: عزیز نصیرزاده;‎ 1964 – 28 February 2026) was an Iranian military officer who served as the Minister of Defence of Iran from 2024 to 2026. He previously served as the Deputy of Chief of Staff for the Iranian Armed Forces from September 2021 to August 2024, and was the commander of the Iranian Air Force (IRIAF) from August 2018 to September 2021, prior to that position.[1] A veteran of the Iran–Iraq War, he graduated as a certified F-14 pilot, but never saw any combat.[2][3][4] On 28 February 2026, the Israel Defense Forces announced that he had been killed during the 2026 Iran war.[5][6][7]

Biography

Aziz Nasirzadeh was born in the year 1964 in the city of Sarab and completed his Secondary education in Tehran. Nasirzadeh began his military career in 1982 and after graduating from the Air Force Academy and completing training courses in Iran and Pakistan, he joined a tactical squadron as an F-14 Tomcat pilot During the Iran–Iraq War, Over the years, he served in key positions in the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, such as chief of staff and acting commander before his appointment as full commander in 2018 to 2021.[8]

From September 2021 to 2024, Nasirzadeh was Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, a position that reflected significant strategic responsibility across Iran's entire military establishment.[8][9] In August 2024, he was appointed the Iranian Minister of Defense.

After becoming defence minister in August 2024, Nasirzadeh made a number of public statements on Iran's military posture amid rising tensions with the United States and Israel. In May 2025, he said that Iran would target U.S. and Israeli interests, bases and forces if either country attacked Iran, adding that U.S. bases in the region would also be considered targets. Ahead of the sixth round of Iran–United States nuclear talks in June 2025, he said that if the negotiations failed and military conflict was imposed on Iran, U.S. bases across the region would be within Iran's reach. During the same press briefing, he also said that Iran had recently tested a missile with a two-ton warhead and would not accept limitations on its missile programme.[10][11]

Nasirzadeh was involved in national-level security planning, including chairing Iran's National Organization for Passive Defense, responsible for safeguarding Iran's critical civilian, military, and nuclear infrastructure from potential U.S. or Israeli strikes. His international security engagements included defense cooperation with Armenia and joint military exercises with Azerbaijan, aimed at countering Israeli, Turkish, and Western influence in the South Caucasus.[12]

Following June 2025 Israeli strikes on Iran, several opposition and foreign media outlets claimed that Nasirzadeh had been killed in the attacks targeting the Iranian Ministry of Defence headquarters in Tehran. However, pro-government journalist Dara Nassari said that "Amir Nasirzadeh is in full health and continues to serve the honorable people of Iran."[13][14]

Death

Nasirzadeh was killed during the 2026 Iran war, on 28 February 2026, by the Israel Defense Forces. The Iranian government reported his death in official news websites and television channels on IRIB.[15]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "IRANIAN AIR FORCE READY TO 'ELIMINATE ISRAEL,' COMMANDER SAYS, AS TENSIONS RISE OVER SYRIA AIRSTRIKES". Newsweek. 21 January 2019.
  2. ↑ "Iran Appoints Nasirzadeh As Chief Of Country's Air Force". Radio Farda.
  3. ↑ "Leader appoints Brig. Gen. Nasirzadeh as Dep. Chief of Staff". Mehr News Agency. 19 September 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  4. ↑ "Former F-14 pilot named new Iran air force chief". Times of Israel. AP. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  5. ↑ "28.02, 22:20: צפו בעדכון דובר צה"ל | את"צ".
  6. ↑ Fabian, Emanuel (28 February 2026). "IDF confirms killing top Iranian leaders, including top defense official Ali Shamkhani" – via www.timesofisrael.com.
  7. ↑ Emily, Rose; Hafezi, Parisa. "Live: US and Israel strike Iran as Trump says actions give Iranians chance to 'topple their rulers'". Reuters. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  8. 1 2 "Khamenei Reshuffles Air Force And General Staff Commanders". Iran International. 19 September 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  9. ↑ "Iran's Ex-Minister Appointed as Deputy Chief of Staff - Politics news". Tasnim News Agency. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  10. ↑ "Iran says it will strike back if US or Israel attack".
  11. ↑ "Iran threatens to strike US bases in region if military conflict arises".
  12. ↑ "Institute for the Study of War". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  13. ↑ "تکذیب ترور وزیر دفاع؛ امیر نصیرزاده در سلامت کامل است" [Reports of Defense Minister's assassination refuted; Amir Nasirzadeh is safe and in good health]. Haft-e Sobh (in Persian). 15 June 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  14. ↑ "تکذیب شایعه ترور وزیر دفاع" [Assassination rumors about the Defense Minister refuted]. Fararu (in Persian). 15 June 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  15. ↑ "Funeral held in Tehran for Iranian commanders killed in US–Israeli strikes". Yahoo News. 11 March 2026. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
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