Iran's IRGC officer warns of missile 'surprise' — Killed in US-Israeli strike hours later

The IRGC confirmed that its spokesperson, Ali Mohammad Naini, died in what it described as a “criminal and cowardly” attack carried out by American and Israeli forces at dawn.

The killing comes amid intensifying hostilities in the Middle East, as the conflict between Iran and Israel continues to escalate.

His last warning

Shortly before his death, Naini delivered a defiant message targeting both Israel and the United States.

He dismissed claims that Iran’s missile capabilities had been weakened, insisting that the country’s defence industry remains strong.

He said Iran continues to produce missiles even during wartime and maintains sufficient stockpiles.

He described the missile programme as having reached its highest level of capability.

In a direct warning, he said there were “surprises” awaiting the enemy and suggested that the conflict would grow more complex and intense as it progressed.

Challenge to US naval claims

Naini also pushed back against statements made by US President Donald Trump, who had claimed that Iran’s naval forces had been destroyed.

He openly challenged Washington, daring it to deploy naval assets into the Persian Gulf. His remarks aimed to project confidence in Iran’s military strength despite ongoing strikes.

However, shortly after these statements were circulated by Iranian media, reports emerged confirming his death in the airstrike.

Israel claims Iran’s capabilities crippled

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asserted that Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes have been severely degraded.

Speaking publicly as the war entered its third week, Netanyahu claimed that Iran no longer possesses the ability to enrich uranium or manufacture ballistic missiles.

He stated that Israeli operations would continue until these capabilities were completely dismantled, describing Iran as significantly weakened while portraying Israel as a dominant regional power.