Iran Tries Keeping New Military Commander A Secret. Mossad Offers Guessing Game, Confirms Winner

After Israel killed the head of the Iranian emergency military command and then took out his successor three days later, the Iranian government decided to keep the name of the new commander of the unit private.

Apparently, it didn’t work.

The Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency, had other plans.

On July 13, in the opening strike of its war with Iran, Israel killed Gholam Ali Rashid; three days later, it killed his replacement, Ali Shadmani, Ynet News noted. That prompted the Iranian government to keep the name of the next replacement secret.

But the X account Mossad Farsi (Persian) posted a message on Tuesday asking its followers to guess who the new head of the Khatam al-Anbiya unit was, writing:

The Tasnim news agency announced that the Iranian regime will not publish the name of the new commander of Khatam al-Anbiya in order to protect him. Know that we know his actual name and are well acquainted with him. Unfortunately, such basic information is being hidden from the Iranian people. Please send us your guesses regarding his name.

خبرگزاری تسنیم اعلام کرد که رژیم جمهوری اسلامی نام فرمانده جدید خاتم الانبیاء را برای محافظت از او منتشر نخواهد کرد.
بدانید که ما دقیقاً می دانیم نام او چیست واو را به خوبی می‌شناسیم.
متأسّفانه چنین اطلاعات اساسی از مردم ایران پنهان می‌شود.
لطفا حدس های خود را در مورد نام او…

— Mossad Farsi (@MossadSpokesman) July 1, 2025

“More than 2,300 responses were recorded,” Ynet News reported. “The replies included threats against Israel, mockery of the unusual post, and suggestions such as Ahmad Vahidi, adviser to the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps; former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif; and Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.”

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But on Wednesday morning. Mossad Farsi replied to a post suggesting that the new replacement was Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi. “The lucky winner who successfully guessed the ‘secret’ name is Mr. Behnam. Please contact us privately to receive your prize,” Mossad Farsi posted.

برنده خوش‌شانسی که موفق شدند نام "محرمانه" را کشف کنند، جناب بهنام هستند. لطفاً به‌صورت خصوصی با ما تماس بگیرید تا جایزه‌تان را دریافت فرمایید. https://t.co/AnGdw77UPs

— Mossad Farsi (@MossadSpokesman) July 2, 2025

“Aliabadi previously served as a deputy minister and governor in Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s government and, further back, as deputy commander of the IRGC Air Force. He has been sanctioned by the United States,” Ynet News explained.

The account that had provided the new replacement’s name was apparently frightened that his guess had been verified, later posting,  “I do not receive money or compensation from any individual, institution or organization for the freedom of the Iranian people. I am independent and free. That’s why I can write here freely and without hesitation and be myself. For me, the freedom of the Iranian people is the greatest wish and the best reward.”

Mossad Farsi later posted that the soldiers in Iran’s military terror arm, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), have reached out to them, writing:

We expected it, but not to this extent! Hundreds of active IRGC soldiers and officers, fed up with this regime, are reaching out to us. We promise to contact you, please be patient. P.S.: Anyone who still hasn’t received this month’s salary from the regime will be prioritized for a response.

ما انتظارش را داشتیم، اما نه به این شدت!
صدها سرباز و افسر فعال سپاه پاسداران که از این رژیم خسته شده‌اند، به ما مراجعه می کنند.
قول می‌دهیم که با شما تماس بگیریم، لطفاً صبور باشید.
پی‌نوشت: هر کسی که هنوز حقوق این ماه خود را از رژیم دریافت نکرده است، در اولویت پاسخگویی قرار…

— Mossad Farsi (@MossadSpokesman) July 3, 2025