Ali Larijani

Israel has claimed responsibility for the killing of senior Iranian official Ali Larijani in an overnight airstrike, marking a major escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two countries.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Larijani, who served as secretary of Iran’s National Security Council, was targeted in the strike carried out by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

The Israeli military also announced that a separate operation killed Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of the Basij paramilitary force, a key arm of Iran’s internal security structure under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

According to Israeli authorities, the strikes were based on precise intelligence and were conducted in central Tehran.

Iran has not officially confirmed Larijani’s death, though state media published a handwritten note attributed to him, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding the claim.

If confirmed, Larijani’s killing would represent one of the highest-profile assassinations in the conflict, following earlier strikes that reportedly killed former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and members of his family at the onset of hostilities on February 28.

Larijani, a prominent figure in Iranian politics, previously served as Speaker of Parliament and played a leading role in the country’s nuclear negotiations with Western powers. He was last seen publicly attending an Al-Quds Day rally in Tehran alongside President Masoud Pezeshkian.

The latest developments underscore rising tensions in the region, as both sides continue to exchange strikes with no immediate signs of de-escalation.