In a stunning blow to Tehran’s power structure, Iran confirmed Wednesday that Ali Larijani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, was killed in an attack. Tasnim News Agency broke the story, citing a council statement that detailed the tragedy unfolding Tuesday morning.
Larijani did not die alone; his son Morteza Larijani, security deputy Alireza Bayat, and multiple others lost their lives in the assault. The council lauded Larijani’s lifelong dedication to national progress, while calling for solidarity against ‘external enemies.’
Israel’s leader Benjamin Netanyahu openly boasted of the strike, framing it as part of sustained campaigns against Iranian targets. This revelation amplifies outcries over the February 28 launch of coordinated US-Israel strikes on Iran, which prompted waves of counterattacks by Tehran and its proxies throughout the Middle East.
The IRGC added fuel to the fire by announcing Basij chief Gholamreza Soleimani’s death in a similar US-Israel operation. Diplomatic channels remain frozen: Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected talks with US envoy Steve Witkoff, and Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei reportedly nixed any ceasefire overtures.
Defiance peaked with the IRGC’s debut launch of the Haj Qasem ballistic missile at Israel—a high-precision tool honoring the late Qasem Soleimani. This development highlights Iran’s accelerating missile prowess amid spiraling hostilities.
Regional stability hangs by a thread as these high-profile deaths reverberate. Analysts warn of potential miscalculations leading to all-out war, with Iran’s leadership channeling grief into vows of retribution and resilience.