Mohammad Pakpour
Iranian military officer and commander of the IRGC (1961–2026)
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Mohammad Pakpour (Persian: محمد پاکپور; 2 June 1961 – 28 February 2026) was an Iranian military officer who served as the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) from 2025 until his death in 2026.[1][2] He had previously served as head of IRGC Ground Forces. On 13 June 2025, he was appointed head of the IRGC following the death of his predecessor, Hossein Salami, in the Twelve-Day War.[3] Pakpour was succeeded as commander of the Ground Forces by Mohammad Karami. On 28 February 2026, Israeli forces announced that he had been killed in the 2026 Iran war.[4][5][6][7] Iranian state media IRNA later confirmed it.[8][2]
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Mohammad Pakpour | |
|---|---|
محمد پاکپور | |
Pakpour in 2016 | |
| Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps | |
| In office 13 June 2025 – 28 February 2026 | |
| President | Masoud Pezeshkian |
| Supreme Leader | Ali Khamenei |
| Preceded by | Hossein Salami |
| Succeeded by | Ahmad Vahidi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 June 1961 Arak, Iran |
| Died | (aged 64) Tehran, Iran |
| Cause of death | Airstrike |
| Awards |  Order of Fath(1st class) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Iran |
| Branch |  IRGC |
| Service years | 1979–2026 |
| Rank |  Major general |
| Commands | IRGC IRGC Ground Forces |
| Battles/wars | |
Military career
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- Pakpour in 2016 speaking to the Iranian press
- Pakpour at the 2022 IRGC Ground Forces exercise in Aras region
- Pakpour (center, holding a rifle), after special forces killed the ISIS perpetrators of the 2017 Tehran attacks.
Pakpour joined the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the wake of the Iranian Revolution in 1979. He served during the 1979 Kurdish rebellion in Iran and the eight-year-long Iran–Iraq War. His responsibilities included five years of Army Operations Command, commander of the 8th Najaf Division, commander of 31st Ashura Division of Command chief Army's Northern Command headquarters. Among his duties were fighting terrorism in northwest Iran, establishing security in southeast Iran, and overseeing specialized exercises.[9][10]
According to Pakpour, the IRGC sought to promote the security of the region through new military tactics.[11]
He believed that drones like Hemaseh helped keep the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on their toes and showed the consistency and preparedness of the force.[12]
In 2017, commandos of Iran's elite Saberin Unit special forces, under Pakpour's direct command, were responsible for neutralizing ISIS terrorists during the 2017 Tehran attacks.[13]
Participation in Third Battle of Fallujah
Pakpour was pictured alongside Qasem Soleimani directing the IRGC forces in the Third Battle of Fallujah against the Islamic State. It was believed to be the first time he was seen directing operations in either Iraq or Syria. According to The Long War Journal, "His presence in Fallujah underscores the importance of operations in Iraq to the IRGC's leadership".[14]
Sanctions
On 24 June 2019, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned him, freezing any of his U.S. assets and banning U.S. persons from doing business with him.[15] He was also sanctioned by the European Union, Australia, Japan, and Canada for his involvement with the IRGC and its wider operations. Although these sanctions were temporarily lifted following the 2015 nuclear agreement, they were reinstated after the United States withdrew from the deal.[16][AI-retrieved source]
Death
On 28 February 2026, the Israel Defense Forces announced that Pakpour had been killed in the 2026 Iran war.[5][6][7] This was later confirmed by Iranian state media IRNA.[17][2]
