Hossein Salami

In March 2025, after Donald Trump ordered strikes against the Houthis and warned Iran, Salami stated that the Houthis made their own decisions and took no orders from Tehran, while warning that Iran would respond "decisively and destructively" if American threats were carried out.

State of the evidence

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Personally implicated

Following Iran's massive launch of drones and missiles against Israel in April 2024, Salami announced on state television a "new equation": any attack on Iranian interests, assets, officials or citizens would prompt a response from Iran. This public doctrine marked an escalation in direct confrontation between Iran and Israel.

State of the evidence

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Personally implicated

On 29 October 2022, Salami told demonstrators that this would be "the last day of the riots" and urged them not to take to the streets again. Delivered at the height of the movement following Mahsa Amini's death in police custody, the statement was perceived as an escalation of the security threat.

State of the evidence

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Personally implicated

In November 2022, the European Union listed Salami under measures related to Iran's military support for Russia, stating that as IRGC commander he was responsible for defence cooperation involving, in particular, the supply of unmanned aerial vehicles to the Russian Federation.

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Command responsibility

The European Union sanctioned Salami on the grounds that, as IRGC commander-in-chief and a member of the Supreme National Security Council, he had attended meetings leading to orders to use lethal force during the November 2019 demonstrations; the EU text attributes the use of lethal means against unarmed protesters to IRGC and Basij forces.

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Command responsibility

In January 2019, while deputy IRGC commander, Salami stated that Iran's strategy was to remove the "Zionist regime" from the world's political map and warned that any war launched against Iran would lead to Israel's elimination. The remarks fuelled controversy over Iranian military rhetoric towards Israel.

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Personally implicated

In 2010, the European Union listed Hossein Salami, then deputy IRGC commander, under restrictive measures relating to Iran's nuclear and ballistic activities. The EU text describes the IRGC as responsible for the nuclear programme and exercising operational control over the ballistic missile programme and associated procurement.

State of the evidence

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