Hossein Salami Age, Death, Family, Biography

Bio/Wiki
Profession	Military Officer
Known for	Being the Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) from 2019 to 2025
Physical Stats
Height (approx.)	5’ 9” (180 cm)
Eye Colour	Dark Brown
Hair Colour	Salt & Pepper
Military Career
Allegiance	Iran
Branch	IRGC
Award	Order of Fath (1st class)
Years of service	1980-2025
Rank	Major General
Commands	• Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps • University of Command and Staff • IRGC Air Force
Wars	• Iran–Iraq War • Iranian intervention in Iraq • June 2025 Israeli strikes on Iran
Major Designations	• Commander of IRGC University of Command and Staff (1992-1997) • Operations deputy of IRGC Joint Staff (1997-2005) • Commander of IRGC Air Force (2005-2009) • Deputy commander of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (2009-2019) • Commander-in-chief of the IRGC (2019-2025) • Professor of the Supreme National Defense University (2019)
Personal Life
Date of Birth	Year, 1960
Birthplace	Golpayegan, Isfahan Province, Imperial State of Iran
Date of Death	13 June 2025
Place of Death	Iran
Age (at the time of death)	65 Years
Death Cause	Assassination by airstrike
Nationality	Iranian
Hometown	Isfahan Province, Imperial State of Iran
College/University	• Iran University of Science and Technology, Iran • AJA University of Command and Staff, Iran
Educational Qualification(s)	• Graduation in Mechanical Engineering from the Iran University of Science and Technology (1981) • Post Graduation in Defense Management from AJA University of Command and Staff, Iran (1988)
Religion	Islam
Food Habit	Non-vegetarian
Controversy	In September 2023, French prosecutors filed a criminal case against Salami, Ismail Ghaani, and Smail Khatib. They were accused of making death threats and supporting terrorism against people who supported protests in Iran after Mahsa Amini's death.
Relationships & More
Marital Status (at the time of death)	Married
Family
Siblings	Brother- Mostafa Salami (a senior officer in the regular armed force)

Some Lesser Known Facts About Hossein Salami

• In 1980, Hossein Salami joined the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) when the Iran-Iraq War began.

• He later became the deputy commander of the IRGC.

• After that, Hossein Salami joined the Isfahan branch of the IRGC and fought against Iraqi forces in Iranian Kurdistan.

• He was then promoted to the position of commander.

• After the Iran-Iraq war ended, Hossein Salami earned a master’s degree in defence management from the AJA University of Command and Staff and served as the head of operations at the IRGC joint staff from 1997 to 2005.

• On 23 December 2006, he was named on the U.N. sanctions list under Resolution 1737 for his involvement in Iran’s ballistic missile program.

• In March 2007, the U.N. Security Council imposed sanctions on him under Resolution 1747.

• In 2014, Hossein Salami said that Iran would take revenge for the blood of martyrs in Palestine. He said,
  

  We will chase Israelis house to house. We will take revenge for the blood of martyrs in Palestine.”

• He declared the beginning of an Islamic awakening against Israel.

• In another speech, Hossein Salami predicted the disappearance of the Zionist regime. He said,
  

  The Zionist regime is slowly disappearing from the world. Soon, there will be no such thing as the Zionist regime.”

• In 2018, during a television interview, he warned that Iran might attack Israel. He said,
  

  If Israel attacks Iran, it will lead to Israel’s destruction and the liberation of Palestinian land.”

• In January 2019, Hossein Salami said in a public rally that Iran fought for world power. He said,
  

  We will fight world powers everywhere, not just in one place. Our war is not local. We have plans to defeat them.”

• On 8 April 2019, the United States imposed economic and travel sanctions on the IRGC and people connected to it. He said in a press release that the IRGC felt proud to be called a terrorist group by the U.S.

• On 21 April 2019, Iran’s leader, Ali Khamenei, appointed Hossein Salami as the commander-in-chief of the IRGC. His promotion led to his inclusion in U.S. sanctions. He replaced Mohammad Ali Jafari.

• In 2019, during a speech on Iranian television, he announced that Iran’s military would defeat America, Israel, and their allies. He said,
  

  We are planning to break America, Israel, and their allies. Our forces should cleanse the world of their presence.”

• In September 2019, Hossein Salami said,
  

  This evil regime [Israel] must be wiped off the map.”

• He added that this was no longer just a dream, but a real goal.

• On 7 January 2020, at the funeral of Qasem Soleimani, who was killed by a U.S. airstrike, Hossein Salami said that Iran would take revenge for Qasem Soleimani’s death. He said,
  

  We will take revenge. It will be strong, painful, and make them regret their actions.”

• On 13 January 2020, he spoke in Iran’s Parliament and apologised for the accidental shooting down of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, which killed 176 people.
  

• Hossein Salami admitted that the IRGC had made a mistake and regretted the incident. He said,
  

  We made a mistake. It was not intentional. I have never felt more sorry in my life. I wish I had been on the plane and died with them. Never in my life have I felt so ashamed. May God and the Iranian people forgive us.”

• On 5 March 2020, he spoke about the COVID-19 outbreak. He said,
  

  We are now dealing with a biological war.”

• He claimed that the United States might cause it as part of biological warfare. On 8 March 2020, this idea was supported by Iran’s state-run Press TV.

• In 2021, the European Union imposed sanctions on Hossein Salami for his role in the November 2019 Iran protests. He was accused of being involved in human rights violations during those protests.

• On 3 October 2022, Canada added him to its sanctions list along with 25 Iranian officials and 9 entities. The sanctions followed the death of Mahsa Amini. After that, the Iranian government was accused of a violent crackdown on protests after her death. Hossein Salami was among those who were held responsible for the government’s actions.

• After that, he addressed the Mahsa Amini protests. He said,
  

  Do not come to the streets. Today is the last day of riots.”

• He blamed Israel and the U.S. for increasing the protests.

• In 2023, the European Union sanctioned Hossein Salami under new laws for supplying Iranian drones (UAVs) to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine.

• After this, he became known for his harsh and aggressive speeches against the U.S., Israel, and Saudi Arabia.

• In November 2023, Hossein Salami participated in a rally and protested against the alleged genocide in Gaza and the deaths of many children.

• In April and October 2024, after Iran attacked Israel, he said that the mission was more successful than expected.
  

  IRGC commanders ordering and executing direct missile attacks on Israel (1 October 2024). Hossein Salami was the main General seen in the video.

• During the attack, he served as the head of the Revolutionary Guard, which used more than 300 drones and missiles for the attack.
  

  Hossein Salami and commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, visit an underground section of the new ‘missile city’ at an undisclosed location in Iran, in January 2025

• On 13 June 2025, reports from Tasnim News Agency and the Tehran Times claimed that Hossein Salami was killed in an Israeli airstrike, which happened early morning on 13 June 2025. Israel attacked Iran’s nuclear sites and military bases.

• He died along with other top Iranian military leaders. After his death, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced his death in the media. It said,
  

  Salami was one of the most important commanders of the Islamic Revolution. He played a key role in scientific, cultural, security, and military efforts.”

• Reportedly, Ahmad Vahidi was appointed as his temporary replacement.

• Hossein Salami’s brother holds a position at the Khatam-al Anbiya Construction Headquarters.