By Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent
The Israeli military announced Tuesday it has killed Ali Larijani, Iran’s top security official and a central figure in Tehran’s strategic decision-making hierarchy.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the death of Larijani, who served as the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.
If verified, this would mark the most significant assassination in the conflict since the joint United States-Israeli strikes killed former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and members of his family on the first day of the war, February 28. Katz stated he was informed by the military that both Larijani and the commander of Iran’s Basij forces, Gholamreza Soleimani, had been killed.
Targets in the Heart of Tehran
The Israeli Air Force conducted a wide-scale wave of strikes across the Iranian capital, reportedly targeting senior leadership and the regime’s repressive apparatus. Among those killed was Gholamreza Soleimani, the commander of the Basij paramilitary force.
The Israeli military stated that the operation was “guided by precise intelligence from Military Intelligence” and described it as a “targeted strike yesterday in the heart of Tehran, eliminating Gholam Reza Soleimani, commander of the Basij unit over the past six years.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed on Tuesday that the leader had personally ordered the elimination of senior officials of the Iranian regime.
A Legacy of Power and Defiance
Larijani was widely regarded as the right-hand man of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He was last seen in public on March 13, according to a social media account in his name, which posted a picture that day of him taking part in the Quds Day march in Tehran alongside President Masoud Pezeshkian. Recent posts from accounts linked to
Larijani showed a stance of deep defiance against Washington. An earlier post stated that Iran was not scared of U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats, asserting that “even those greater than you could not eliminate the Iranian nation.” On March 10, the account issued a stark warning: “Watch out for yourself—lest you be eliminated!” Despite these reports, a handwritten message attributed to Larijani appeared on social media Tuesday morning commemorating fallen Iranian Navy sailors, leaving his status officially unconfirmed by Tehran.
Regional Escalation and Economic Fallout
The U.S. and Israeli-led war against Iran entered its 18th day on Tuesday, with no let-up in the attacks from both sides. The conflict has rapidly expanded beyond Iranian borders, with Tehran targeting American interests and regional infrastructure.
Iran has specifically targeted energy and transport infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates as part of its retaliatory strikes, boosting concerns of a prolonged global energy crisis. Furthermore, Iran has attacked other Gulf neighbors and ships in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. In Iraq, the United States Embassy in Baghdad’s Green Zone came under fire Tuesday. While air defense systems intercepted several projectiles, Iraqi security sources reported that at least one drone crashed inside the embassy compound.
Digital Isolation and Internal Control
Inside Iran, the government has intensified its efforts to maintain a total information blackout that has now lasted more than 400 hours. The semi-official news agency ISNA reported that the intelligence ministry seized hundreds of Starlink satellite internet terminals.
The ministry described the crackdown as “a large-scale combined operation using extensive technological tools” to identify the “criminal activities of their users.” Officials warned that the use of illegal satellite systems “during wartime it carries the most severe punishment for offenders, especially those linked to or cooperating with the enemy.” The loss of Soleimani is a significant blow to these internal efforts, as he led the Basij forces used to quell domestic protests.
Uncertainty Surrounding Iranian Leadership
Despite the high-profile claims from Tel Aviv, Tehran has not yet officially confirmed the deaths of Larijani or Soleimani. Defense Minister Katz maintained a firm stance, stating that the leaders “have joined the head of the destruction program, Khamenei, and all those neutralized from the Axis of Evil in the depths of hell.” Before the current blackout,
Larijani remained defiant regarding foreign intervention. During his last public appearance, he stated, “The more the United States pressures us, the stronger our will becomes. The attacks by the United States and Israel against the Jerusalem Day marches demonstrate their desperation and helplessness.”
Strategic Stalemate
The reported deaths of Larijani and Soleimani represent a high-stakes gamble in a conflict that has already redefined regional security dynamics. While Israel views these eliminations as essential to dismantling Tehran’s command structure, the lack of immediate confirmation from Iran leaves a volatile power vacuum.
As the war enters its third week, the dual pressures of internal dissent and external military force continue to test the resilience of the Iranian state. Ultimately, the global community remains watchful; the continued targeting of energy corridors and the deepening digital isolation of the Iranian people suggest that while individual leaders may fall, the broader geopolitical and economic ramifications of this war are only beginning to unfold.
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