Iran’s theocratic leadership took a big hit on Saturday, starting with the head goblin himself, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has now assumed room temperature. Our Townhall colleague Dmitri Bolt puts the number of regime bigwigs transformed into former regime bigwigs at over 40.
So far, according to Israeli sources, the deaths include Ali Larijani, Khamenei’s deputy, and Ali Shamkhani, a top security advisor. Other reported casualties among high-ranking figures include Esmail Qaani, head of the IRGC Quds Force; Mohammad Pakpour, the newly appointed IRGC commander; and Defense Minister Amir Nasirzadeh. However, Iranian officials have denied these reports.
Iranian officials, we might note, are not people to be trusted.
A few minutes spent searching revealed this list of now-no-longer-breathing Iranian bigwigs:
These are some key people in the regime, and we must take special note of the regime that is the world’s foremost sponsor of Islamic terrorism, having a counterterrorism unit.
The figure of 40 mentioned above comes from Israel’s assessment:
🚨 WOW! More than *40* top Iranian regime and security officials have been killed, along with the Ayatollah, per Israel
“This is one of the LARGEST regime DECAPITATION missions conducted in modern warfare history.”
Israeli intelligence infiltration played a huge role. LFG! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/8jCQ5Wh2Kv
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) February 28, 2026
That last sentence is something of an understatement; that much seems certain.
Read More: BREAKING: Iran’s Ayatollah Khameini Confirmed Dead
Iranians Worldwide Celebrate Victory As Khameini, Other Top Leaders Meet Their Maker
Here’s the thing about that intelligence infiltration: We have seen reports that several of the regime’s bigwigs, including possible Khamenei himself, were killed while engaged in a morning breakfast meeting. If this is accurate, consider the implications of that: Someone knew not only that a big assembly of regime bigwigs was meeting in one room, but also knew where and when the meeting was taking place. Then, somehow, that information was passed to Israel and, presumably, the United States.
Now, the surviving members of the regime know there’s a rat in their ranks, but they don’t know who it is. What they do know is that they can’t trust each other, and when that happens in a thugocracy like Iran, it’s only a matter of time before the long knives come out, and what’s left of the regime self-destructs.
As far as the number of regime goblins rendered inert, these are the numbers and names confirmed so far. It’s a bit early to have solid figures yet. Estimates are running as high as 200 killed in the attacks, but there are two things to consider: First, Iran will not tell the truth about any damage they have suffered, and second, any number of regime members doesn’t take into account people like family members and servants who may have been in the area.
Stay tuned, folks. It looks like we are in for a few interesting days ahead.
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