Iran Confirms Death of Security Chief Larijani and Basij Commander Soleimani

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-Palestinian rally in Tehran alongside President Masoud Pezeshkian. His death marks the highest-ranking Iranian official killed since Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was assassinated at the start of the war on February 28.

Israel’s leadership welcomed the operation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Larijani as “the boss of the Revolutionary Guards,” framing the strike as part of a broader effort to weaken Iran’s ruling system and encourage internal revolt. Defence Minister Israel Katz echoed this, saying the campaign aims to dismantle Iran’s missile and strategic infrastructure.

Iranian state media portrayed Larijani’s death as martyrdom, praising his lifelong dedication to the Islamic Revolution. Before his killing, Larijani had urged Muslims worldwide to unite against what he called “treacherous aggression” by the US and Israel, while insisting Iran sought regional solidarity rather than domination.

Analysts caution that while symbolically significant, the assassinations are unlikely to destabilize Iran’s leadership. Mohamad Elmasry of the Doha Institute likened the strikes to a “game of Whac-A-Mole,” noting that new leaders will continue to emerge.

The killings underscore the intensifying US-Israel war on Iran, with Tehran vowing to continue its retaliatory strikes across the region.

Source: Aljazeera