According to a report by The Times of Israel, an Israeli official stated that Tangsiri was killed in a strike in the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas. The official further alleged that Tangsiri played a key role in orchestrating the closure of the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil shipping route.
If confirmed, Tangsiri’s death would mark another high-profile assassination of an Iranian leader in recent weeks, as the conflict intensifies. Since February 28, Israel has reportedly carried out a series of targeted strikes against senior Iranian figures. These operations are part of a broader escalation following the outbreak of war that has significantly destabilized the region.
The ongoing conflict has already seen major casualties among Iran’s leadership. Reports indicate that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in joint US-Israeli strikes earlier in the war. In addition, Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani and Energy Minister Esmail Khatib were also reportedly eliminated in separate targeted operations.
Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri has served as the commander of the IRGC Naval Division since August 2018. During his tenure, he emerged as a central figure in Iran’s maritime defense strategy, particularly in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, where tensions with Western forces have frequently flared.
Notably, this is not the first time reports of Tangsiri’s death have surfaced. In January 2026, similar claims emerged following an explosion in Bandar Abbas. However, Iran’s state-affiliated Tasnim News Agency later denied those reports, releasing an IRGC statement asserting that Tangsiri was “alive and well.”
As of now, the latest claims remain unverified, and the international community awaits official statements from both Tehran and Tel Aviv to confirm or refute the reports.
