Tehran: Iran has confirmed that its national security chief, Ali Larijani, was killed in an overnight Israeli strike in Tehran, marking a major blow to the Islamic Republic amid the ongoing war. Iran’s National Security Council described Larijani’s death as answering the “divine call” and called him a martyr.
Larijani, 68, was killed along with his son, Morteza Larijani, his office chief, Alireza Bayat, and several bodyguards. Reports also confirmed the death of Qassem Qoreishi, deputy head of the Basij paramilitary, during a Basij meeting.
A central figure in Iran’s political and security apparatus, Larijani was closely aligned with former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and played a key role in nuclear policy, strategic diplomacy, and domestic security operations, including the suppression of protests.
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His death follows the February 28 US-Israeli strikes that killed Khamenei, further destabilizing Iran’s leadership. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested that Larijani’s assassination might create an opportunity for Iranians to challenge their clerical rulers.
Larijani’s assassination is seen as a significant setback for Iran, potentially affecting both the ongoing war and the post-war political landscape.
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