Iran has confirmed the death of one of its most influential security figures following an Israeli airstrike, signaling a major escalation in the ongoing conflict.
Ali Larijani, a top-ranking official and key figure within Iran’s security structure, was k!lled in an overnight strike in Tehran, just days after he publicly mocked Donald Trump.
At the time of his death, Larijani was leading the Supreme National Security Council, the country’s highest security authority. After the loss of several other senior figures, he was widely regarded as one of the most powerful individuals within the regime.
He was also known for playing a major role in the crackdown on protesters earlier this year.
‘He was effectively the leader, the one calling the shots,’ an Israeli Military official said. ‘He was the de facto leader of Iran, and we believe him to be eliminated in an Israeli Air Force strike last night. He was the one instructing attacks against all states. He was directing fire across the entire region.’
Iranian authorities later confirmed his de@th.
Larijani was last seen in public on Friday in Tehran, where he appeared alongside other senior officials during the Quds Day march—an annual event established after the Iranian Revolution that symbolizes the country’s long-standing opposition to Israel.
The 67-year-old had recently downplayed attacks on Tehran, describing them as acts of “desperation” by both Israel and the United States.
His de@th represents another major setback for Iran’s leadership amid the ongoing conflict, which has also claimed the life of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Meanwhile, his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, who is said to have taken over as Supreme Leader, has not been seen publicly since the war began, fueling speculation about his condition following the strike that k!lled his father.