The Iranian regime is trying to cover up the death of Khamenei's close advisor.

The Iranian media reported in the first hours after the start of Operation "Lion Arrows" that Ali Shamkhani, a close adviser to the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, was killed. However, four days later in Tehran they claimed that he was not dead. The pro-Iranian agency "Sabrin" even published a photo of Shamkhani lying in a hospital bed, claiming that he was in stable condition.

Soon, however, it became clear that this photo was actually from 2024, after an operation that Shamkhani had undergone. The attempts to conceal the death of the senior Iranian official became evident.

According to the initial reports, Shamkhani was wounded in the attack on his home at the beginning of Operation "Lion Arrows", and the local media confirmed his death the next day. The news website "Iran International", associated with the opposition in Tehran, reported the successful elimination of Shamkhani in the first hours of the Israeli operation.

Shamkhani was a former commander of the Iranian Navy, and later served as Minister of Defense and even a presidential candidate. He held key positions as the head of the Center for Strategic Studies of the Iranian Army and the Secretary of the Supreme Council for National Security. He is considered a very influential figure in the Islamic regime.