Ali Larijani and Gholamreza Soleimani [File: AFP] TEHRAN, 17 March 2026 - Iran has confirmed the deaths of two of its most senior figures: Ali Larijani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, and Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of the Basij militia. The announcement came hours after Israel claimed responsibility for the killings. Larijani, a veteran politician who once led Iran’s nuclear negotiations and served as parliament speaker, was last seen at a pro-Palest