I. Early Life and Revolution
Born in 1961 in Arak, Iran, a city at the heart of Iran’s industrial and military heartland, Mohammad Pakpour came of age during one of the most transformative periods in Iranian history. Emerging from the ruins of a collapsing monarchy, the nascent Islamic Republic propelled young revolutionaries and ideologues into positions of influence – including within its newly formed military structures.
In the immediate aftermath of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Pakpour joined the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) – a parallel military force established to protect the revolution’s ideals and counter internal dissent. This period in Iran was characterized by social upheaval, the consolidation of religious-political authority, and the restructuring of state institutions. Pakpour’s early decision to join the IRGC positioned him at the center of these transformative forces.
II. Early Military Career and the Iran‑Iraq War
One of the defining chapters in Pakpour’s life was his service during the Iran‑Iraq War (1980‑1988) – a brutal conflict that reshaped Iran’s political, social, and military landscape. During this period, Pakpour was deployed to frontline operations and held leadership roles, including commanding elite units such as the 8th Najaf Division and the 31st Ashura Division.
In the crucible of large‑scale conventional conflict, Pakpour honed his operational and strategic understanding of warfare. This experience proved critical for his later roles in counterterrorism, border security, and IRGC command. The war also cemented his ideological commitment to the Islamic Republic’s defense doctrine – a blend of asymmetric warfare thinking and deep resistance against external pressures.
III. Career in the IRGC: Beyond the Battlefield
A. Border Security and Counterterrorism
Following his wartime service, Pakpour continued to rise through the IRGC’s ranks. By the mid‑2000s, he had become one of the corps’ most experienced commanders, especially in managing Iran’s border conflicts. Under his leadership, the IRGC focused on containing insurgent movements, combating cross‑border militancy, and ensuring the cohesion of Iran’s territorial security framework.
His focus on border security was not merely tactical but strategic: Iran’s neighborhood — from Iraqi Kurdistan to southeastern provinces like Sistan and Baluchestan — was rife with insurgent activity, including groups that Iran alleged were supported by foreign intelligence agencies. Pakpour’s public statements on this matter consistently framed these incursions as broader geopolitical campaigns aimed at undermining Iran’s internal stability.
B. Command of the Ground Forces
In 2009, Pakpour was appointed commander of the IRGC Ground Forces, a key leadership role that placed him at the helm of Iran’s principal land‑force component. In this capacity, he was responsible for strategic planning, force readiness, and tactical innovation — including efforts to modernize the IRGC’s battlefield doctrine and integrate newer technologies and operational concepts.
His tenure saw increased emphasis on counterterrorism and asymmetric warfare, especially during the rise of regional jihadist movements such as ISIS (Daesh). The IRGC Ground Forces, under his direction, became central to Iran’s efforts to prevent spillover of terrorism into Iranian territory and to support allied actors in Iraq and Syria.
IV. Sanctions and International Pressures
Even before his promotion to the IRGC’s highest leadership, Pakpour was a figure of international scrutiny. In 2021, the European Union sanctioned him — a move that froze his assets in EU jurisdictions and restricted interactions with European entities. These sanctions were part of broader measures targeting IRGC figures in response to Iran’s regional activities and alleged human rights abuses.
While these sanctions did not directly affect his command responsibilities within Iran, they signaled how Pakpour was viewed by many Western governments — not simply as a military professional but as a key component in Tehran’s strategic security apparatus.
V. Rise to Commander‑in‑Chief of the IRGC
A. The June 2025 Strikes
Pakpour’s ascension to the leadership of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was precipitated by dramatic events in mid‑2025. On 13 June 2025, a coordinated Israeli airstrike targeted Iranian military and nuclear facilities, killing several of Iran’s top commanders — including the then‑IRGC commander‑in‑chief, Hossein Salami, and the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Mohammad Bagheri.
Salami’s death — described in Iranian and international media as a severe blow to Tehran’s military hierarchy — left a leadership vacuum at the IRGC’s apex. Within hours, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, appointed Major General Mohammad Pakpour as the new Command‑in‑Chief of the IRGC. Pakpour was simultaneously promoted in rank, a testament to the regime’s confidence in his strategic capabilities and loyalty.
B. Significance of the Appointment
Pakpour’s elevation carried multiple layers of significance:
- It positioned a seasoned field commander at the head of Iran’s most powerful military institution.
- It signaled Iran’s refusal to be weakened by decapitation strikes targeting its leadership.
- Pakpour’s appointment came amid a broader escalation of the Iran‑Israel conflict, extending into broader regional and even global tensions involving the United States.
His tenure commenced during one of Iran’s most dangerous geopolitical moments in decades.
VI. The IRGC Under Pakpour’s Leadership
A. Doctrine and Strategy
Once installed as commander, Pakpour continued to articulate a doctrine that emphasized readiness, deterrence, and technological adaptation. Across late 2025, he frequently underscored the need for Iran to develop advanced military capabilities — particularly missile systems with stealth technologies designed to evade sophisticated anti‑air defenses.
Pakpour stated that Iran’s armed forces had learned from the intense confrontations of mid‑2025, describing that period as a “war of technology” in which artificial intelligence and advanced systems played disproportionate roles. His emphasis on innovation underscored a shift toward preparing the IRGC for future conflicts that might rely heavily on automation, advanced avionics, and network‑centric warfare.
B. Regional Posture
Pakpour’s leadership was also marked by increasingly assertive rhetoric regarding strategic chokepoints such as the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz — two areas that have long been international geopolitical flashpoints due to their significance for global energy flows. In public statements, he warned that any hostile actions by Iran’s adversaries in these waters would be met with “crushing” and “immediate” responses.
This stance reflected both a continuation of longstanding IRGC posture and a response to regional turbulence that had intensified following the 2025 conflict with Israel and the involvement of U.S. forces.
VII. The Iran‑Israel Conflict and the 12‑Day War
The mid‑2025 strikes that ushered Pakpour into leadership were part of a broader – and highly complex – escalation between Iran and Israel.
Iran’s official narrative described the confrontation as a defensive struggle against a hostile assault that violated international law and targeted key figures within its military and scientific communities. In turn, Iran’s armed forces initiated a series of missile and drone strikes against Israeli, and later U.S., military targets throughout the region. Pakpour later characterized these operations as decisive actions that ultimately compelled adversaries to seek ceasefire terms after a 12‑day conflict.
Whether viewed through Iranian, Israeli, or international lenses, this conflict represented one of the most consequential confrontations in decades – reshaping military alliances, regional security architecture, and global perceptions of Middle Eastern stability.
VIII. The Reported Death of Mohammad Pakpour (February 28, 2026)
In a major development on 28 February 2026, multiple news outlets reported that Mohammad Pakpour – then serving as Commander‑in‑Chief of the IRGC – was killed in a series of combined Israeli and U.S. airstrikes against Iranian strategic targets. These reports came from sources familiar with regional military operations and intelligence assessments, though, as of the time of reporting, Iranian state media had not officially confirmed the details.
Joined in the attack, according to these reports, was Iran’s Defence Minister Amir Nasirzadeh, who was also said to have been killed in the same strikes. The operation reportedly targeted high‑profile military installations as part of growing hostilities between Iran and its regional adversaries.
If confirmed, Pakpour’s death represents a profound moment in Iran’s modern history: the elimination of the IRGC’s current commander during an era of escalating geopolitical conflict. International reaction remains fluid, with regional powers watching closely for how Tehran will respond and how the IRGC – a central pillar of the Islamic Republic’s political and military structure – will reorganize its leadership.
IX. Legacy and Geopolitical Impact
A. As a Military Leader
Pakpour’s legacy encompasses not only battlefield command but also intellectual contributions to Iran’s security doctrine. His philosophical approach – combining traditional strategic intuition with modern technological adaptation – has shaped how the IRGC views deterrence and defense in the 21st century.
Whether in his early years confronting insurgencies or in his later role managing state‑level conflicts, Pakpour consistently emphasized the importance of preparedness, adaptability, and ideological commitment. This makes him one of the most consequential Iranian military figures of his generation.
B. As a Symbol
For supporters of the Islamic Republic, Pakpour was seen as a symbol of resilience – a commander who rose through the ranks, survived decades of geopolitical turmoil, and led Iran’s most powerful military organ during a critical strategic moment.
For opponents, he was emblematic of a military elite whose policies and actions contributed to destabilizing regional conflicts and whose leadership was intertwined with broader controversies surrounding Iran’s foreign interventions.
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