Aziz Nasirzadeh
Aziz Nasirzadeh | |
|---|---|
عزیز نصیرزاده | |
.jpg) Nasirzadeh in 2024 | |
| Minister of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics | |
| In office 21 August 2024 – 28 February 2026 | |
| President | Masoud Pezeshkian |
| Preceded by | Mohammad-Reza Gharaei Ashtiani |
| Succeeded by | Majid Ibn Reza (Acting) |
| Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces | |
| In office 19 September 2021 – 21 August 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Mohammad-Reza Gharaei Ashtiani |
| Succeeded by | Mohammad-Reza Gharaei Ashtiani |
| Commander of the Iranian Air Force | |
| In office 19 August 2018 – 19 September 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Hassan Shahsafi |
| Succeeded by | Hamid Vahedi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1964 Sarab, East Azerbaijan, Iran |
| Died | (aged 62) Tehran, Iran |
| Manner of death | Assassination by airstrike |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Iran |
| Branch/service |  Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force |
| Years of service | 1982–2026 |
| Rank |  Brigadier General |
| Commands | Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force |
| 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]
Military career
[edit]Nasirzadeh began his military career as an F-14 Tomcat fighter pilot at the end of the Iran–Iraq War, though he never saw any combat. 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 appointed 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.
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.[10]
Following June 2025 Israeli strikes on Iran, several opposition and foreign media outlets claimed that Nasirzadeh had been assassinated 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."[11][12]
Views
[edit]Israel
[edit]Nasirzadeh supported the ideology of "Resistance", stating it is a deep-rooted belief system rather than a mere tactic. In 2024, he said that "Resistance will defeat Israel as it did in 2006".[13] In a public statement, he warned that "any malicious action by the Zionist regime will result in its own destruction", assuring that Iran is prepared to face any scenario. In August 2023, he said "Our current and next generations are impatiently and wholeheartedly waiting to fight the Zionist regime and wipe it off the Earth".[14]
United States
[edit]In June 2025, referring to a possible failure in the 2025 Iran–United States negotiations, Nasirzadeh stated, "If a conflict is imposed on us... all US bases are within our reach, and we will boldly target them in host countries."[15]
Death
[edit]Nasirzadeh was killed during the 2026 Iran war, on 28 February 2026, by the Israel Defense Forces. The Iranian government has reported his death in official news websites and television channels on IRIB.
Awards and decorations
[edit]
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "IRANIAN AIR FORCE READY TO 'ELIMINATE ISRAEL,' COMMANDER SAYS, AS TENSIONS RISE OVER SYRIA AIRSTRIKES". Newsweek. 21 January 2019.
- ^ "Iran Appoints Nasirzadeh As Chief Of Country's Air Force". Radio Farda.
- ^ "Leader appoints Brig. Gen. Nasirzadeh as Dep. Chief of Staff". Mehr News Agency. 2021-09-19. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
- ^ "Former F-14 pilot named new Iran air force chief". Times of Israel. AP. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
- ^ "28.02, 22:20: צפו בעדכון דובר צה"ל | את"צ".
- ^ Fabian, Emanuel (February 28, 2026). "IDF confirms killing top Iranian leaders, including top defense official Ali Shamkhani" – via www.timesofisrael.com.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "Khamenei Reshuffles Air Force And General Staff Commanders". Iran International. 2021-09-19. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
- ^ "Iran's Ex-Minister Appointed as Deputy Chief of Staff - Politics news". Tasnim News Agency. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
- ^ "Institute for the Study of War". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 2022-03-25. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "تکذیب شایعه ترور وزیر دفاع" [Assassination rumors about the Defense Minister refuted]. Fararu (in Persian). 2025-06-15. Retrieved 2025-06-15.
- ^ "'Resistance will defeat Israel as it did in 2006': Iran DM". Tehran Times. 2024-10-14. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
- ^ "Iran nominates ex-Air Force chief as defense minister". Times of Israel. AP. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
- ^ "Iran threatens to strike US bases in region if military conflict arises". Reuters. 2025-06-11. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
