- March 18, 2026
Iran Confirms Death Of National Security Chief Ali Larijani In Israeli Strike: ‘Achieved Martyrdom’
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Iran has officially confirmed that Ali Larijani, the country’s influential national security chief, was killed in an overnight Israeli strike in Tehran.
Iran has confirmed the death of its national security chief Ali Larijani. (AFP)
Iran’s National Security Council on Wednesday confirmed the death of its security chief, Ali Larijani, in an overnight Israeli strike, according to the Iranian state media, marking a major setback for the Islamic Republic by the assassination of its most experienced and influential policy makers in the ongoing war.
“The pure souls of the martyrs embraced the purified soul of God’s righteous servant, Martyr Dr. Ali Larijani,” Iran’s state media read a statement from the council.
“After a lifetime of struggle for the advancement of Iran and of the Islamic Revolution, he ultimately attained his long-held aspiration, answered the divine call, and honourably achieved the sweet grace of martyrdom in the trench of service,” it added.
Funerals for both Larijani and Soleimani will be held on Wednesday, according to Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed “deep sorrow and regret” at Larijani’s death, saying, “I saw nothing from him but benevolence, insight, companionship, and foresight.”
Larijani was killed along with his son, Morteza Larijani, and the head of his office, Alireza Bayat, as well as several bodyguards. Iran International had reported that Qassem Qoreishi, deputy head of the Basij paramilitary organisation, was also killed in the Israeli strike on a Basij meeting to discuss how to confront potential protests during an upcoming festival.
Who Was Ali Larijani?
The 67-year-old Larijani, Iran’s national security chief, has recently been in the news for what can be called bold statements, if not threats, against the United States and Israel since the war broke out.
Described as a key pillar in Iran’s ruling system, Larijani was close to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and central to the government’s nuclear policy and strategic diplomacy over decades. He became even more powerful after the former supreme leader was killed and was speculated to be among the top contenders to lead Iran before, ultimately, Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed to replace his slain father.
In June 2025, after Iran’s war with Israel and the US, he was appointed head of Iran’s top security body, the Supreme National Security Council, coordinating defence strategies and overseeing nuclear policy. He later became increasingly visible in the diplomatic arena, travelling to Gulf states to lead Iran’s negotiations that were ultimately undone by the war.
Despite his relative moderation, Larijani is believed to have played a key role in the crackdown on December’s protests that led to the deaths of thousands of protesters. He was among the officials sanctioned by the US in January over what Washington described as “violently repressing the Iranian people”.
Larijani’s family has been influential within Iran’s political system for decades. After earning a PhD in Western philosophy from the University of Tehran, Larijani later headed state broadcaster IRIB for a decade and served as Iran’s parliamentary speaker.
ALSO READ: Larijani Killing Part Of Effort To Give Iranians Chance To Remove Their Rulers: Netanyahu
Setback For Iranian Regime
His killing comes less than three weeks after US-Israeli strikes on February 28 killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, triggering a regional war with global repercussions.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared on television to announce the death, and to argue that Larijani’s downfall could give the Iranian people an opening to rise up and overthrow their clerical rulers.
While such a revolt is unlikely to happen soon, experts have largely agreed that Larijani was a key figure in the Islamic Republic’s battle for survival and the right-hand man of the late former supreme leader Ali Khamenei. His death would deepen a leadership crisis that could affect both the course of the war and the stability of the post-war Iranian state.
March 18, 2026, 02:44 IST
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