Seyyed Ali Asghar Hejazi, Deputy Chief of Staff in the office of Ali Khamenei, has reportedly been targeted.

Hejazi was far more than just the chief of staff in the Supreme Leader’s office. For years he was considered one of the most influential figures in Khamenei’s inner circle and oversaw security for the Leader’s office.

Since the late 1990s, many presidential security powers were transferred to him, including responsibilities tied to countering regime opponents. He worked closely with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Ministry of Intelligence (Iran), and the judiciary, and frequently acted as Khamenei’s envoy on sensitive political and security matters, relaying messages to the heads of the three branches of government.