Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani killed in Israeli strike: Katz

Iran’s top security official, Ali Larijani, was killed in an Israeli strike in Tehran on Monday night, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed on Tuesday.

Larijani — the secretary of the National Security Council, Iran’s top decision-making body on defense and foreign policy — was among several senior Iranian officials killed in a series of overnight strikes.

Iran has not yet confirmed the news. Larijani’s social media account remained active at the time of Israel’s announcement. A handwritten message ostensibly from Larijani was posted from his X account shortly after Katz confirmed his death. In the message, he paid tribute to Iranian sailors killed in a US strike on the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena on March 4.

Larijani was last seen in public participating in Quds Day rallies in Tehran last Friday. 

Who was Larijani

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian appointed Larijani as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council last August. He previously held the post from 2005 to 2007, when he also served as Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator, leading talks with the UK, France, Germany and Russia.

Following his appointment, Larijani traveled to Gulf states such as Oman and Qatar as Tehran and Washington resumed indirect nuclear negotiations. The talks eventually collapsed after the war.

Larijani has long been a fixture in Iranian government circles. He served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and later led Iran’s state broadcaster, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting. He also served as minister of culture and Islamic guidance and acted as a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint US-Israeli strike in Tehran on the first day of the war, Feb. 28.

Basij commander killed

Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of Iran’s Basij paramilitary force, was also confirmed killed along with 10 other senior officials from the unit in another overnight strike in Tehran.

“Larijani and the Basij commander were eliminated overnight and joined the head of the annihilation program, Khamenei and all the eliminated members of the axis of evil in the depths of hell,” Katz said during an assessment on Tuesday, according to his office.

Iran has not commented on the claim.

Iran’s Basij paramilitary force was founded after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and is linked to the IRGC.

Soleimani had led the Basij since 2019, overseeing violent crackdowns, including during the 2022 protest movement that erupted after the death in custody of Mahas Amini.

He has been sanctioned by the United States, the European Union and other countries for his alleged role in violently suppressing protests and committing human rights abuses through the Basij.

The Israeli announcement comes as regional tensions continue to mount in the third week of the war involving Iran, Israel and the United States.

Shortly after Katz’s announcement, Iran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles toward Israel, triggering sirens in northern and central areas. Earlier on Tuesday, the Israeli military carried out a series of strikes in Tehran and other cities across Iran.

“The leaders of the regime are being killed and their capabilities terminated,” Katz said in his statement. "Our army is working with strength to continue to hit and terminate the missile capabilities as well as the strategic infrastructure.”

This developing story has been updated since initial publication.