Prominent Iranian Official Ali Larijani Reportedly Killed in Israeli Strike Amid Regional Conflict
Ali Larijani, a prominent Iranian security official and former parliament speaker, has been reportedly killed in an Israeli strike, according to statements from Israel's Defense Minister and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The reported killing also includes General Gholam Reza Soleimani, the head of the Revolutionary Guard’s all-volunteer Basij force. These deaths occur in the context of an ongoing regional conflict and follow the reported killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei approximately 18 days prior. Iranian state media has not immediately confirmed the deaths, though a handwritten letter, purportedly from Larijani, was published by his office.
Reported Strike and Immediate Reactions
On Tuesday, Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that Ali Larijani and Basij commander General Gholam Reza Soleimani were "eliminated" in an overnight strike. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) later confirmed Larijani's death.
Katz stated the officials had "joined Khamenei, the head of the annihilation program, along with all those eliminated from the axis of evil in the depths of hell."
Iranian state media did not immediately confirm the deaths. However, Larijani’s office announced that a message from him would be published. A handwritten note, attributed to Larijani, subsequently appeared on his social media account and was reported by Iranian state media. The note reportedly commemorated Iranian sailors killed aboard the IRIS Dena, an Iranian frigate reportedly sunk by a U.S. submarine in the ongoing conflict, with their funerals scheduled for Tuesday.
Larijani's last known public appearance was on Friday at the al-Quds day rally in Tehran, an event held in support of Palestinians.
Ali Larijani's Political Career and Influence
Ali Larijani, aged 67 or 68 and born in 1957 or 1958, was a significant figure in Iranian politics from a prominent family with ties to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic. His brother, Sadeq, previously headed Iran’s judiciary. Larijani held a PhD in Western Philosophy from the University of Tehran and was described by the liberal Israeli newspaper Haaretz as a "brilliant thinker."
Throughout his career, Larijani held numerous high-profile positions:
- Head of State Broadcasting (IRIB): He led state broadcasting for a decade from 1994, using the platform to criticize the reformist movement.
- Speaker of Parliament: He served as Speaker of Parliament for 12 years, from 2008 to 2020.
- Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC): He held this critical advisory role in 2006, leading unsuccessful talks with the George W. Bush administration on Iran's nuclear program. He was later appointed to this position again, assuming a central role in Iran's security strategy and directing efforts related to the conflict involving Israel and the United States. He also served as Khamenei's representative to the SNSC in 1996.
- Chief Nuclear Negotiator: From 2005 to 2007, he led nuclear discussions with Britain, France, Germany, and Russia.
Larijani was widely regarded for his ability to navigate various political factions and maintained significant personal influence both domestically and with foreign states such as China and Russia. He supported the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and consistently affirmed Iran's right to uranium enrichment, stating that negotiations with Washington should focus solely on the nuclear program. He was known for balancing ideological commitment with pragmatic statecraft and was considered a trusted confidant of the late Supreme Leader Khamenei.
Following Khamenei's death, Larijani assumed a central role in Iran's operations, managing its security strategy and maintaining a visible public profile. He posted a statement online asserting that "America and the Zionist regime [Israel] have set the heart of the Iranian nation ablaze" and vowed to "make the Zionist criminals and the shameless Americans regret their actions."
Political Challenges and Controversies
Larijani ran for president in 2005 but was defeated by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He was subsequently debarred by the Guardian Council from running in both the 2021 and 2024 presidential elections, a decision viewed by some as an effort by an IRGC faction to ensure Ebrahim Raisi's election.
In January, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned Larijani and other officials, citing their alleged role in what Washington described as the "violent repression of the Iranian people" during nationwide protests. Human rights organizations reported thousands of deaths and tens of thousands of detentions in the government's response to these protests. Larijani acknowledged the economic factors contributing to the protests but attributed the ensuing violence to foreign involvement by the United States and Israel. He was associated with the suppression of anti-regime protests in Iran.
Context of Ongoing Conflict and Leadership Succession
Larijani's death is noted as the highest-level killing in the ongoing conflict since the reported death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28. Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, has reportedly succeeded his father as the new supreme leader, and was reportedly wounded in the conflict.
The process of replacing Larijani as Iran's top national security official is underway. Constitutionally, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is responsible for appointing the next national security advisor. Saeed Jalili is being considered as a potential candidate for the position. Jalili previously served as national security advisor and chief nuclear negotiator and is a member of the Expediency Discernment Council.
Analysts describe Jalili as a hardliner and a leader within a segment of the regime characterized as anti-Western. His potential appointment could indicate a shift towards hardliners, contrasting with Larijani, who was viewed as a more centrist and pragmatic figure. Analysts suggest Jalili might be less adept at navigating the diverse components of the Iranian system. Following Larijani's death, Jalili reportedly issued a statement, asserting that:
"such actions would not aid the 'feeble enemy' but rather accelerate its 'defeat and humiliation'."
The individual selected to replace Larijani is expected to play a significant role in future negotiations concerning regional conflicts.