JERUSALEM (AP) - The Israeli Defense Minister announced on Tuesday that the Israeli military has killed prominent Iranian security official Ali Larijani in an overnight strike. This information was conveyed by Defense Minister Israel Katz, who stated that the military operation also resulted in the death of General Gholam Reza Soleimani, the head of the Revolutionary Guard's all-volunteer Basij force.
Currently, Iranian state media has not confirmed the deaths of either Larijani or Soleimani. However, it has indicated that a statement from Larijani's office would be published shortly, suggesting that the news might be addressed from the Iranian side soon.
The recent killings underscore a significant pattern of removing senior leaders from the Iranian theocratic regime, following an earlier strike on February 28 that took the life of 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Katz's statement emphasized that "Larijani and the Basij commander were eliminated last night and have joined Khamenei, the head of the annihilation program, along with all those eliminated from the axis of evil in the depths of hell."
Ali Larijani came from one of Iran’s most illustrious political families and had a long career in Iranian politics. He was a former parliament speaker and a senior policy adviser. Notably, he had been appointed to advise the late Khamenei on strategy regarding nuclear negotiations with the Trump administration. Additionally, he held the position of secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, which is the country's primary security body.
Born on June 3, 1958, Larijani had been subjected to U.S. Treasury sanctions in January due to his involvement in the Iranian government's violent suppression of nationwide protests. The sanctions specifically noted that he was "responsible for coordinating the response to the protests on behalf of the supreme leader of Iran." The U.S. Treasury's statement highlighted that Larijani was among the first Iranian leaders to advocate for violence in reaction to the legitimate demands of the Iranian populace.
The nationwide protests that took place in January were met with a brutal crackdown from the regime, resulting in the deaths of thousands and the detention of tens of thousands of individuals. Larijani had positioned himself as a conservative figure within Iran's theocracy and was the parliament speaker from 2008 to 2020. However, as external and internal pressures mounted, Larijani began to issue increasingly hard-line rhetoric.
Furthermore, it is noteworthy that Larijani's brother, Sadeq Larijani, has previously served as the head of Iran's judiciary, indicating that political influence runs deep within this family. In a significant political move, the late Khamenei barred Larijani from running for president in the 2021 elections. This decision came after Larijani had signaled a willingness to adopt a more pragmatic stance, favoring a return to the 2015 nuclear deal that involved world powers.
In a message posted on social media around that time, Larijani reflected, "I have done my duty before God and the dear nation, and I am satisfied." He expressed gratitude to those who showed appreciation for his service and encouraged participation in elections to promote an Islamic Iran, emphasizing his continued commitment to the regime’s ideological principles.
