Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued a written statement following the assassination of Majid Khademi, the intelligence chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The message condemned the killing and blamed the United States and Israel for the attack. Israel has confirmed that Khademi was targeted. Khamenei reiterated that the deaths of commanders would not disrupt the ideals of Iran’s forces, emphasizing the large number of their members. Several IRGC commanders have been killed since the war began on February 28.

The report noted that multiple written statements have recently been released under Mojtaba Khamenei’s name, but he has not been seen publicly or on Iranian state television since succeeding his father about a month ago. Former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Mojtaba might be dead or in poor condition due to his absence. Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva said the absence was for security reasons, while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi insisted that Khamenei was healthy and fully in control of the situation.