In June 2025,Iranian official Ali Shamkhani was severely injured in an Israeli airstrike during the Iran–Israel war. Initial reports mistakenly claimed he had been killed,[2] but he later reappeared in public.
After the US airstrike on 3 January 2020 killed the head of IRGC's Quds forceQasem Soleimani as he travelled in Baghdad,Iraq,Shamkhani said on 6 January that Iran’s response would be a "historic nightmare" for the US:"Even if the weakest of these scenarios gains a consensus,the implementation of it can be a historic nightmare for the Americans... The entirety of the resistance forces will retaliate," he said to the Fars News Agency. The SNSC was assessing 13 revenge scenarios.[19]
At a Baghdad news conference after meeting with Iraqi politicians on 7 March 2020,Shamkhani said "Zionists are against regional security."[20]
Shamkhani resigned as the country's top security official in May 2023.[21] The New York Times disclosed that the Iranian government removed Shamkhani from his position as a national security official following scrutiny over his close ties with a senior British spy.[22] Speculation about his departure arose in January after his former ally,Iranian-British politician and military officer Alireza Akbari,was executed for espionage on behalf of the UK.[23][24]Iran International claimed that Shamkhani was forced to resign after his involvement as a key member of the government circle linked to Naji Sharifi-Zindashti,who allegedly headed a cartel engaged in kidnapping and drug trafficking in collaboration with the IRGC,was made public.[25][26]
On 10 January 2020,the US State Department extended its sanctions under Executive Order 13876 to Shamkhani and seven other individuals,and "twenty-two entities and three vessels pursuant to Executive Order 13871" as well as a Chinese steel trading organization under the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act.[27] According to secretary Steven T. Mnuchin,Shamkhani and other senior Regime Officials were sanctioned for "their involvement and complicity in Tuesday’s ballistic missile strikes". according to the statement,the sanctions will continue until all terrorist support and promotion by the Iranian regime ends.[28]
On 20 February 2020,the US Treasury Department extended its sanctions again under Executive Order 13876 to Shamkhani amongst other individuals,following "the disqualification of several thousand electoral candidates by Iran's Guardian Council".[29]
Personal life
Ali Shamkhani is the father of Hossein Shamkhani,said to successfully manage international oil trading operations despite U.S. sanctions targeting Iranian oil.[30][31][32] According to U.S. officials,Hossein is a major figure in the supply of Iranian arms to Russia.[33]
Awards and honors
In 2003,Shamkhani received the Shoja'at Medal,the highest military medal from President Mohammad Khatami.[34] He was also honored for his eight years service as minister of defense in 2005.[34] In 2004,Shamkhani received the Order of Abdulaziz Al Saud,the highest award in Saudi Arabia from King Fahd for his prominent role in the design and implementation in developing relations with Arabic countries in the Persian Gulf.[34][35] He was the first Iranian minister to receive the medal[34] and received medals from the presidents of Syria and Lebanon in February 2004.[36]
Assassination attempt
On 13 June 2025,during the early stages of the Iran–Israel war,the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reportedly carried out an airstrike targeting senior Iranian officials,including Ali Shamkhani. Some early Iranian media reports claimed that Shamkhani had been killed in the strike,but on 20 June 2025,Iranian media confirmed that Shamkhani had survived the attack and was in stable condition after sustaining severe injuries.[37][38] Shamkhani was later seen attending a funeral ceremony honoring Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists killed during the conflict.[39][38]
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Order of Fath (3)
Order of Abdulaziz Al Saud 
