Khaberni - A blog post by the Secretary of the Iranian Defense Council, Admiral Ali Shamkhani, confirming that he is "still alive" sparked widespread controversy after official media announced his death in American-Israeli raids last Saturday.
Ali Shamkhani's blog included the Quranic verse "And do not say of those who are killed in the way of Allah they are dead. Rather, they are alive, but you perceive [it] not," raising questions about whether he meant to confirm his physical survival or to indicate that he is "alive with God" in the sense of "martyrdom and afterlife existence."
It had previously been officially announced that Shamkhani was killed in an Israeli raid during the 12-day war in June last year, although he survived the assassination attempt.
Shamkhani reaffirmed his survival through an "unverified" account attributed to him on the platform "X," in an implicit message of defiance.
Shamkhani announced today, Sunday, that he "is still alive" following reports of his death last Saturday during American-Israeli raids on sites in Tehran targeting a meeting with the leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed.
On February 5 of last year, the Iranian President Masoud Bazeshkyan issued a decision to appoint Admiral Ali Shamkhani as Secretary of the Defense Council, a move that comes as part of Tehran's efforts to strengthen its defensive structure and upgrade its security readiness in the country.
Shamkhani, one of the most prominent military and security figures in Iran, has previously held high positions, including Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, and has extensive experience in strategic and defensive affairs.
Shamkhani, who has Arab origins, holds the position of political advisor to the Iranian leader Ali Khamenei, whose death was announced earlier this morning by American President Donald Trump.
