who was the general at the head of the Iranian Defense

O general Aziz NasirzadehIran’s Defense Minister — whose death was announced by Israel after joint bombings with the United States this Saturday (28) — took office in August 2024.

Major General Nasirzadeh previously served as commander of the Iranian Air Force between 2018 and 2021. In September 2021, he was appointed deputy chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, a position he held until becoming the holder of the Defense portfolio.

His military career began during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988). Later, he consolidated his career in the Air Force as certified F-14 fighter pilot Tomcat (American-made aircraft acquired by Iran before the 1979 Revolution).

In 2010, as deputy commander of the Air Force, he was responsible for announcing that the Army had successfully tested a prototype of drone “invisible” to radarsstating that it is a technology “developed entirely in the country”.

Already in air force commandin 2018, Nasirzadeh reiterated that one of Tehran’s strategic objectives was to “expand the range of its missiles”, confirming that the regime was already working on new military projects.

Threats

In May 2025, amid rising tensions with Washington and Jerusalem over Iranian support for Houthi rebels in Yemen, Nasirzadeh presented a new ballistic missile with a range of 1,200 kilometers. baptized by Red Basirthe weaponry would be capable, according to the general, of penetrating advanced air defense systems, such as the American THAAD and Patriot.

After the so-called “Twelve Day War”, in June 2025, the Minister of Defense warned that, if Israel attacked Iranian territory again, the country would use “much more advanced” missiles.

In recent weeks, Nasirzadeh had been directly threatening the United Statesstating that, in the event of external bombing, the Iranian Army would respond with attacks against American bases in the region or against its allied countries.

“Iran will respond more decisively to any new act of aggression,” declared Nasirzadeh on January 13, assuring that the army would defend the country “to the last drop of blood.”

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Defrie Effin announced on Saturday night the Nasirzadeh’s death in today’s bombings. According to Israeli authorities, the offensive also killed the commander of the Revolutionary Guard (the regime’s elite corps), Mohammad Pakpuras well as five other senior Iranian officials.