Israeli officials have reported that a high-ranking Iranian official, Ali Larijani, was killed in an airstrike conducted by Israel.
Ali Larijani, who held the position of Security Chief and was a former nuclear negotiator, was targeted by the IDF the previous night, as confirmed by Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz. Larijani had been a prominent figure in the Iranian regime following the passing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
According to Israel, Larijani is the most senior Iranian official to be killed since the death of Khamenei in the initial US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. The IDF has stated that they conducted strikes targeting three key figures in Iran overnight, including Larijani, Akram al-Ajouri of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani.
Israel alleges that both Larijani and Soleimani were assassinated in the airstrike. A statement released on behalf of Ali Larijani praised the fallen individuals, expressing that their sacrifice would strengthen the nation and the armed forces of the Islamic Republic.
Ali Larijani, who served as the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) and was appointed in August 2025, had been recognized as an advisor to the late Supreme Leader Khamenei. Prior to his current role, Larijani had also led Iran’s nuclear negotiations between 2005 and 2007.
Following the reported incident, Iranian media indicated that a statement from the Security Chief is forthcoming. If confirmed, the death of Ali Larijani would mark a significant loss for Iran, making him the highest-ranking official to be killed since the previous strikes in February.