• Source:JND
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HighLights
  1. IDF airstrike eliminates Iran's top security chief, Ali Larijani.
  2. Most significant targeted killing since Ayatollah Khamenei's death.
  3. Other senior IRGC, Basij leaders also killed in strikes.

In a major development in the Israel-US-Iran war, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has killed Ali Larijani, the Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, in a late-night airstrike on Monday. Citing Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, the Jerusalem Post confirmed the killing of the top Iranian security leader. The Israeli media described it as the most consequential targeted killing since the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. An official confirmation from Iran is still awaited. Ali Larijiani was reportedly due to address the Iranian people in the next two days.

Who was Ali Larijani?

According to Israeli media, Larijani had emerged as a central figure in Iran's leadership vacuum following Khamenei's death on February 28, when the IDF also eliminated Iran's military chief, IRGC commander, defence minister, and approximately 40 other senior officials in a sweeping initial strike. He was one of the few people trusted by Khamenei to ensure the regime's survival in case of the ayatollah's death.

Many viewed Larijani as the leader running the regime's daily operations, particularly security affairs and negotiations with the West.

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He had publicly positioned himself as head of an interim committee to govern the country after Khamenei's death and had been a vocal responder to international threats, including those from US President Donald Trump.

How did Ali Larijani regain influence in Iran?

Larijani's past roles include an IRGC commander, Speaker of Parliament, and national security chief. Disqualified from the 2021 presidential race to favour Ebrahim Raisi, he had recently regained prominence as Khamenei's top adviser amid waves of assassinations, including major losses in June 2025.

Who else was killed in the latest Israeli airstrike?

The strikes extended beyond Larijani. The IDF confirmed the assassination of Gholamreza Soleimani, head of the IRGC's Basij paramilitary militia, and his deputy, Seyyed Karishi. These two were targeted in a makeshift tent setup designed to evade detection, rather than a fixed headquarters, according to the Jerusalem Post. Additionally, the chief of the IRGC's Aerospace Force was killed, and an Israeli official reported that the majority of the Basij leadership was eliminated in an overnight airstrike.

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Iranian authorities initially indicated that Larijani was scheduled to deliver a public address on Tuesday, but JP, citing IDF sources, expressed strong confidence in the success of the strike and scepticism about any such appearance.

Power vacuum in Iran

The power vacuum in Tehran has left uncertainty about true control. Mojtaba Khamenei was nominally appointed as the next supreme leader but is believed to be badly wounded, with no public appearances fueling doubts about his authority, per IDF and US intelligence assessments. Other figures like new IRGC leader Ahmad Vahidi, a former interior and defence minister who rose rapidly, and President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is seen as lacking strong IRGC influence, are potential power players, but none match Larijani's recent visibility.

(With inputs from agency)


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