Hossein Salami was a prominent Iranian military figure who served as the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) from April 2019 until his death in an Israeli airstrike on June 13, 2025, as reported by Iran’s state media, Tasnim. Known for his fiery rhetoric and strategic oversight of Iran’s military operations, Salami played a significant role in shaping Iran’s regional influence and defense policies. This article explores his life, career, and legacy.
Early Life and Education
Born in 1960 in Golpayegan, Isfahan Province, Iran, Hossein Salami grew up during a transformative period in the country’s history. In 1978, he enrolled in the mechanical engineering program at the Iran University of Science and Technology. However, the outbreak of the Iran-Iraq War in 1980 prompted him to join the IRGC, a branch of Iran’s armed forces established after the 1979 Islamic Revolution to protect the regime and advance its ideological goals. Salami later pursued further education, earning a master’s degree in defense management from the Iranian Army Command and General Staff College.
Salami’s Role in Iran’s Regional Strategy
Hossein Salami was instrumental in advancing Iran’s Axis of Resistance, a network of allied militias and governments opposing Western and Israeli influence in the Middle East. Under his leadership, the IRGC supported groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and the Houthi movement in Yemen. Salami also prioritized the development of Iran’s ballistic missile and UAV programs, which became critical components of Iran’s deterrence strategy.
According to researcher Mehdi Khalaji, Salami’s tenure was marked by efforts to “innovatively circumvent economic sanctions, develop Iran’s missile program, and maintain the regime’s defiant regional policy.” His oversight of Iran’s UAV cooperation, including alleged supplies to Russia for use in Ukraine, led to international sanctions from the European Union and the United States.
Death
On June 13, 2025, Hossein Salami was killed in an Israeli airstrike, alongside other senior Iranian military figures and nuclear scientists, according to Iranian state media. The strike targeted key IRGC and military infrastructure, marking a significant escalation in Iran-Israel tensions. Salami’s death was confirmed by Tasnim, the IRGC’s media arm, and reported widely on platforms like X.
