Iran will not abandon uranium enrichment, nuclear chief says

Israel assassinated Iran's navy chief, Alireza Tangsiri, on March 26, 2021, amid fears he could potentially lead the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in a more dangerous capacity. This revelation comes from an exclusive account by The Jerusalem Post, who has learned that senior Israeli officials viewed Tangsiri as a much more formidable and creative commander than his eventual successor, Ahmad Vahidi, who was seen as a deputy to top commanders.

Top Israeli officials believed Tangsiri could pose a significant threat to the Strait of Hormuz and overall naval conflicts. On March 19, an Israeli official named Cooper made a secret phone call to Israel's Defense Chief of Staff, Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir, urging his assassination. Zamir approved of the plan, and on March 26, Israel carried out the assassination of Tangsiri. The Post has also disclosed that the Israeli Navy provided crucial intelligence that likely played a role in the decision to target Tangsiri.

The timing of the call to Zamir on March 19 raised questions, especially as US sources had claimed Iran was not engaging in significant sea-mining activities until the conflict subsided in mid-April. The Post reveals that the US was uncertain and had varying levels of confidence regarding Iran's intentions regarding sea-mining. Nevertheless, both Israeli and American sources acknowledged that their concerns did not amount to issuing concrete orders.

In essence, Cooper's phone call to Zamir can be seen as a preemptive move to address a potential future strategic problem. From an Israeli perspective, there were multiple reasons to assassinate Tangsiri, including his potential future role in the IRGC. The Israeli government's support for the operation contributed to its successful execution.