Hossein Salami facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sardar Hossein Salami
Salami in 2019
Native name	حسین سلامی
Born	1960 (1960) Golpayegan, Imperial State of Iran
Died	13 June 2025(2025-06-13) (aged 64–65) Tehran, Iran
Allegiance	Iran
IRGC
Years of service	1980–2025
Rank	Major general
Commands held	Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps University of Command and Staff IRGC Air Force
Conflicts	Iran–Iraq War Iranian intervention in Iraq Iran–Israel war  †
Awards	Order of Fath (1st class)

Hossein Salami (Persian: حسین سلامی; 1960 – 13 June 2025) was an Iranian military officer. He served as the top commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) from 2019 until his death in 2025. He was killed during the Iran–Israel war.

Salami joined the IRGC in 1980 during the Iran–Iraq War. He was a college student at the time. He moved up in the ranks and became a deputy commander. In April 2019, Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, made him the new Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC. Salami was known for his strong speeches about the US, Israel, and Saudi Arabia.

Early Life and Learning

Hossein Salami was born in 1960 in Golpayegan, Isfahan province, Iran.

School and Special Training

In 1978, he started studying mechanical engineering at the Iran University of Science and Technology. When the Iran–Iraq War began, he joined the IRGC. After the war, he went back to college. He earned a master's degree in defense management.

Hossein Salami also earned a Ph.D. in National Defense Management. He took special courses on missiles at Malek-Ashtar University.

Career Highlights

After joining the IRGC in 1980, Salami quickly moved up. He became a deputy commander.

In January 2019, Salami spoke about Iran's global influence. He said Iran had plans to challenge world powers.

On April 21, 2019, Ali Khamenei appointed him as the new commander-in-chief of the IRGC. He took over from Mohammad Ali Jafari.

In January 2020, Salami spoke at the funeral of Qasem Soleimani. Soleimani was a commander who had been killed by a US airstrike. Salami promised a strong response.

In January 2020, an IRGC missile accidentally shot down Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752. This sad event killed 176 people. Salami later apologized to the Iranian Parliament. He said it was an unintentional mistake and expressed deep regret.

After Iran's attack on Israel in April 2024, Salami stated the operation was very successful. One civilian was seriously hurt, and others had minor injuries or stress.

Leadership Roles

From 1999 to 2008, Salami was a Deputy Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force. He played a key role in developing Iran's missile forces.

Missile Program Development

He directly oversaw projects for ballistic missiles. These included the “Shahab-3” and “Qadr” missiles. Under his leadership, Iran achieved a 2000km missile range.

Writings

His works include a book called “Deterrence Strategy in Sacred Defense.” He also wrote an article titled “Missiles’ Role in National Security.”

Timeline of Responsibilities

• Commander of IRGC University of Command and Staff (1992–1997)
• Operations deputy of IRGC Joint Staff (1997–2005)
• Commander of IRGC Air Force (2005–2009)
• Deputy commander of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (2009–2019)
• Commander-in-chief of the IRGC (2019–2025)
• Professor at the Supreme National Defense University (as of 2019)

Awards and Honors

On March 10, 2024, Salami received an Order of Fath medal. This medal, also known as the Victory Medal, was given by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. It was for "improving the defence, combat, and deterrence power" of Iran's armed forces.

Sanctions

Hossein Salami faced several international sanctions.

• In December 2006, he was included in a UN list for sanctions related to Iran's missile program.
• In March 2007, the United Nations Security Council imposed sanctions on him.
• In April 2019, the US placed economic and travel sanctions on the IRGC. Salami was included in this list when he became commander.
• In 2021, the European Union sanctioned Salami. This was due to his role during protests in Iran in November 2019.
• In October 2022, Canada added Salami to its sanctions list. This was in response to the Death of Mahsa Amini and protests that followed.
• In 2023, the European Union added him to another sanctions list. This was for Iran's military support to Russia, including supplying drones.

Views and Style

Influence

Salami played a big part in shaping Iran's regional plans. Under his leadership, Iran increased its activities in the Middle East. This included supporting the Syrian Government and groups like Hezbollah. Iran also supported the Houthis in Yemen, providing them with missiles and drones.

Salami was known for using "psychological warfare." He also focused on finding ways around economic sanctions. He worked on developing Iran's missile program and maintaining its regional policy. He often made public statements about Iran's military strength.

Strong Speeches

Salami was known for his powerful and direct speeches. He often spoke about the US, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. In a 2019 speech, Salami said Iran planned to challenge America, Israel, and their allies.

On Israel

In 2014, Salami stated that Iran would seek revenge for those killed in Palestine. He also said that the "Zionist regime" (referring to Israel) was slowly disappearing. He predicted that soon it would no longer exist.

In a 2018 interview, Salami said that if Israel started a war with Iran, it would lead to Israel's end. In September 2019, he repeated that Israel must be "wiped off the map."

In November 2023, Salami joined a rally protesting the conflict in Gaza. He spoke about the impact on children in Gaza. In May 2024, during the Gaza conflict, Salami said that the United States had targeted the entire Islamic world. He spoke about the importance of defending Muslims.

Strategic Ideas

In a 2023 speech, Salami said that Iran's defense should be so strong that no country would dare to threaten it.

Other Statements

On January 13, 2020, Salami apologized for the accidental shootdown of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752. He said he had never felt so ashamed in his life.

In March 2020, Salami suggested that COVID-19 might be a form of "biological warfare" from America.

In 2022, Salami spoke at a funeral for victims of an attack by ISIS in Iran. He also addressed the Mahsa Amini protests. He told protestors to leave the streets and blamed Israel and the US for causing the unrest.

Death

Salami was killed in an airstrike on June 13, 2025. This happened at the start of the Iran–Israel war. Other top military leaders were also killed. The strikes also hit Iran's nuclear and military sites.

After his death, the IRGC released a statement. They called Major General Salami one of the most important commanders of the Islamic Revolution. Ahmad Vahidi was named as his temporary replacement.

Personal Life

Salami's brother, Mostafa Salami, is also a senior officer in the military. He is also an authority at the Khatam-al Anbiya Construction Headquarters.

See also

In Spanish: Hossein Salami para niños