IRGC spokesman Gen. Naeini killed in US-Israel strike — hours after boasting about Iran's missile production

IRGC spokesman Gen. Ali Mohammad Naeini was killed in strikes launched by the US and Israel on Day 21, Iranian state media Tasnim reported. Tasnim stated Naeini 'was martyred.' Israel had not yet publicly commented at the time of the report. The killing carries notable symbolic weight: Naeini had given a high-profile statement earlier the same day directly rebutting Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's assertion that Iran can no longer produce ballistic missiles. Naeini said: 'Our missile industry score is 20... we are producing missiles even during war conditions, which is amazing.' He was killed in a US-Israel strike hours later. Naeini had served as the IRGC's official spokesman since 2024, making him the public face of Iran's military communications during the war. His killing continues the pattern of targeted elimination of senior Iranian military and intelligence officials: Supreme Leader Khamenei (Day 1), IRGC commanders, Intelligence Minister Khatib (Day 19), and now the IRGC's own spokesman. It removes a key voice for Iranian military messaging at a critical moment in the war.