Hossein Salami, the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from 2019 until 2025, directed Iran’s military operations and missile program before his death in a 2025 Israeli airstrike. Born in 1960 in Golpayegan, he spent his career within the IRGC, eventually overseeing the nation’s ballistic missile development and regional military strategy through high-level leadership positions.
Military Education and Early Career
Salami began his path at the Iran University of Science and Technology in 1978. Following his entry into the IRGC, he pursued advanced defense studies. He held a Ph.D. in National Defense Management from the Iranian Army Command and General Staff College and completed technical missile courses at Malek-Ashtar University. His early administrative roles included commanding the IRGC University of Command and Staff and serving as deputy chief of the IRGC Joint Staff.
Missile Development and Strategic Command
During his tenure as deputy commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force from 1999 to 2008, and later as commander of the IRGC Air Force, Salami focused on ballistic projects. He supervised the development of the Shahab-3 and Qadr missile systems, achieving operational ranges of up to 2000 km. His intellectual contributions included the book Deterrence Strategy in Sacred Defense and academic papers regarding the role of missiles in national security.
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Appointed commander-in-chief in April 2019 by Ali Khamenei, Salami replaced Mohammad Ali Jafari. Throughout his command, he maintained a confrontational public rhetoric directed at the United States, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. In 2024, he received the Order of Fath, 1st class, for his efforts to improve the defensive and combat capabilities of the Iranian armed forces. He frequently managed Iran's regional military support, including influence in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.
International Sanctions
Over several years, Salami was targeted by multiple international sanctions regimes. He was first sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council in 2007 for his role in the ballistic missile program. Later, the United States, European Union, and Canada issued sanctions against him related to his leadership of the IRGC, his role during domestic protests, and for supplying unmanned aerial vehicles for use in international military operations.
Fast facts
- Born: 1960, Golpayegan
- Died: 13 June 2025, Tehran
- Rank: Lieutenant general
- Education: Ph.D., National Defense Management
- Key Role: Commander-in-Chief, IRGC (2019-2025)
- Religion: Shia Islam
- Burial Site: Shah Abdol-Azim Shrine
Questions readers ask
What was the official cause of Hossein Salami's death?
He died on 13 June 2025 following an Israeli airstrike during the Twelve-Day War.
Which major missile projects did Salami supervise?
He directly supervised the development of the Shahab-3 and Qadr ballistic missile projects.
Did Salami ever comment on the 2020 shootdown of flight PS752?
Yes. He appeared before the Parliament of Iran on 13 January 2020, acknowledging the strike as an unintentional mistake and expressing public remorse.
